Volume 05 Issue 02-2025
16
International Journal of Advance Scientific Research
(ISSN
–
2750-1396)
VOLUME
05
ISSUE
02
Pages:
16-21
OCLC
–
1368736135
A
BSTRACT
This article is about the work and research on figurative language by Chinese, Russian, American, and
European scholars dedicated to the study of figurative language in world linguistics.
K
EYWORDS
Figurative language, linguistics, literary studies, metaphor theory, phraseology, simultaneous translation,
pedagogy, symbolic meaning.
I
NTRODUCTION
Figurative language holds an important place in
all languages. This is because linguistic richness is
not only about words but also about using them
in the right context with their exact intended
meaning. Today, the phenomenon of figurative
language remains significant in linguistics,
including the field of simultaneous translation.
In the Chinese language, figurative language not
only enhances expression but also conveys
cultural values and deeply rooted perceptions
found
in
Chinese
historical
narratives.
Understanding figurative language in Chinese
requires knowledge of context and symbolic
meanings.
Journal
Website:
http://sciencebring.co
m/index.php/ijasr
Copyright:
Original
content from this work
may be used under the
terms of the creative
commons
attributes
4.0 licence.
Research Article
THE STUDY OF FIGURATIVE LEXICON IN WORLD
LINGUISTICS
Submission Date:
December 09,
2024,
Accepted Date:
January 11, 2025,
Published Date:
February 13, 2025
Crossref doi:
https://doi.org/10.37547/ijasr-05-02-03
Yorqinoy Qodirberganova
1st year master’s student, Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Volume 05 Issue 02-2025
17
International Journal of Advance Scientific Research
(ISSN
–
2750-1396)
VOLUME
05
ISSUE
02
Pages:
16-21
OCLC
–
1368736135
Figurative language refers to the use of words and
phrases in a figurative sense, making expression
more vivid and impactful. Metaphorical elements
play a key role in the Chinese language, as they
serve not only to convey information but also to
build cultural, philosophical, and emotional
bridges between people.
European and American Scholars in the Study
of Figurative Language.
European and American scholars have also been
deeply engaged in the study of figurative language
in the context of the Chinese language and
beyond, including fields such as metaphor,
idioms, and other stylistic devices. Some notable
foreign scholars who have studied figurative
language include:
J. Lakoff
–
An American linguist renowned for his
work on metaphor and conceptual metaphors in
language. Together with his colleague M. Johnson,
he analyzed how metaphors shape our perception
of the world and thinking in their famous book
*Metaphors We Live By*. Lakoff also studied how
metaphors are incorporated into different
languages, including Chinese.
Lakoff openly expressed his political views and
ideas about conceptual structures that he
considered central to understanding political
processes. In *Moral Politics* (1996, revised in
2002), he specifically analyzed conceptual
metaphors in the minds of American “liberals”
and “conservatives”.
M. Johnson
–
Lakoff's co-author, who has also
worked on metaphor theory and its role in
language and cognition. His research explores
how figurative expressions influence cognitive
processes.
W. Labov
–
An American linguist who studied
dialects and the social aspects of language. Labov
also analyzed phraseology and idiomatic
expressions, examining how they function in
different languages.
A. Ho
–
A Chinese linguist specializing in
figurative language and metaphor. He studied
Chinese idioms and their cultural and lexical
characteristics, focusing on how metaphors
influence the perception of Chinese culture. A. Ho
has published over 190 articles in international
journals and conference proceedings and was a
co-editor of *Handbook of Digital Forensics of
Multimedia Data and Devices*, published by IEEE
Press/Wiley in September 2015.
J. Culpeper
–
A British linguist who researched
style and rhetoric, including the use of metaphors
and other figurative elements in language. He also
worked on speech theory and studied language in
the context of social dynamics.
E. Sapir
–
An American anthropologist and
linguist known for his research on language and
culture. He explored how language shapes
worldview and how figurative language reflects
cultural and cognitive aspects.
A. Gopnik
–
A psychologist who studied the
development of figurative language and
metaphorical thinking in children. Along with N.
Meltzoff and K. Kuhl, she co-authored *The
Scientist in the Crib: What Early Learning Tells Us
Volume 05 Issue 02-2025
18
International Journal of Advance Scientific Research
(ISSN
–
2750-1396)
VOLUME
05
ISSUE
02
Pages:
16-21
OCLC
–
1368736135
About the Mind*, which argues that cognitive
development in infancy is influenced by three
factors: innate knowledge, learning ability, and
parental teaching.
P. Ricoeur
–
A French philosopher who, in his
book *The Rule of Metaphor*, viewed metaphor
as a method of understanding and creating new
knowledge.
These scholars, along with many others
worldwide, have significantly contributed to the
development of figurative language theories,
particularly in the context of metaphors, idioms,
and other rhetorical devices used across various
languages and cultures.
Russian Scholars in the Study of Figurative
Language
Among Russian scholars who have studied
figurative language, the following stand out:
M. Bakhtin
–
A philosopher and literary theorist
who developed the theory of dialogism. Bakhtin
viewed language as a living and evolving
phenomenon, exploring how figurative language,
metaphor, and symbols contribute to polysemy in
literary works and enrich their meaning. He
viewed language as a dynamic and evolving
phenomenon, analyzing how figurative language,
metaphor, and symbols contribute to polysemy in
literary works.
Y. Lotman
–
A cultural historian and semiotician,
one of the founders of the Tartu-Moscow Semiotic
School. He regarded figurative language as an
essential element of culture and art, exploring its
role in literature and cinema in constructing
meaning and imagery.
R. Jakobson
–
A linguist and literary scholar who
worked in both Russia and the United States. His
studies on the structure and functions of language
included a detailed analysis of metaphor and
metonymy in poetry. Jakobson developed ideas
about the communicative role of figurative
language, influencing studies on figurative
expressions in various languages, including
Chinese.
V. Vinogradov
–
A scholar in stylistics and
literary language theory, who examined
metaphor, metonymy, and epithets in literature.
His notable work *History of Words* (first
published in 1994) explores the origins and
evolution of Russian words. He also authored
*Russian Language: Grammatical Teaching on
Words*, originally written in the 1930s and
revised in 1947.
B. Uspensky
–
A semiotician and cultural
historian whose research focused on symbols,
signs, and rhetorical devices, as well as how
figurative language shapes human perception. He
authored over 500 scientific works and published
the first grammar of the Russian language written
specifically for native Russian speakers.
A. Potebnya
–
A 19th-century linguist and
philosopher whose work had a profound impact
on later researchers of figurative language. He
believed that language reflects patterns of
thought, and that figurative expressions and
metaphors are fundamental to understanding the
world.
Volume 05 Issue 02-2025
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International Journal of Advance Scientific Research
(ISSN
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2750-1396)
VOLUME
05
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OCLC
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1368736135
These scholars played a significant role in
advancing the theory of figurative language and
its influence on cognition and culture. They also
contributed to the development of Russian
linguistics and semiotics.
Applications of Figurative Language
Figurative language is widely used in literature,
linguistics, psychology, pedagogy, and cultural
studies. It encompasses various rhetorical
devices such as metaphor, metonymy, allegory,
hyperbole, and irony. Additionally, it includes
other stylistic tools that help convey complex
ideas and emotions effectively.
Chinese Scholars Who Studied Figurative
Language and Metaphor
Several Chinese scholars have made significant
contributions to the study of figurative language
and metaphor in Chinese literature. Among them,
the following stand out:
Zhu Guangqian (
朱光潜
)
–
A Chinese
aesthetician and literary theorist, Zhu made a
substantial contribution to understanding
metaphor and figurative language in Chinese
literature. His research primarily focused on
aesthetics and the role of metaphor in poetry and
prose. His wor
ks, such as “Psychology of
Literature and Art”, “On Beauty”, “On Poetry”, “On
Literature”, “History of Western Aesthetics”, and
“Collection of Essays on Aesthetic Criticism”,
provide insights into figurative language.
Hu Wenzhong (
胡文仲
)
–
A scholar in
sociolinguistics and intercultural
communication, Xu studied how Chinese culture
reflects figurative language and the use of
metaphors in daily conversations. He spent a long
time researching and teaching English,
intercultural communication, and Australian
literature. He authored six monographs, 16 books
(including textbooks), translated five books, and
published over 60 articles in China and abroad.
Zhou Yunzhao (
周运超
)
–
A cognitive linguist
who studied metaphors in the Chinese language
from a cognitive approach, analyzing the
influence of culture and mental models.
Lu Guojun (
陆国俊
)
–
Another Chinese cognitive
linguist whose works focus on the conceptual
metaphors and characteristics of figurative
language in Chinese.
These scholars have contributed significantly to
the development of figurative language theory by
examining how Chinese culture and thought
influence spoken language.
The study of metaphorical language in Chinese
literature and linguistics has attracted attention
both in China and internationally. Below are some
well-known Chinese scholars who have
conducted research on figurative language,
particularly idioms, metaphors, and other
stylistic devices:
Li Shi (
李
时
)
–
A famous Chinese lexicographer
and linguist, Li analyzed the use of metaphors and
idioms in Chinese literature, as well as their
impact on both daily speech and literary works .
Volume 05 Issue 02-2025
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International Journal of Advance Scientific Research
(ISSN
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VOLUME
05
ISSUE
02
Pages:
16-21
OCLC
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1368736135
Sun Fu (
孙福
)
–
A scholar who specialized in
Chinese literature, particularly in the use of
metaphors and allegories in classical works. He
examined figurative language within the context
of Chinese philosophical and cultural traditions.
Jian Sheng (
简生
)
–
A Chinese rhetorician and
linguist who focused on the use of various stylistic
devices in Chinese speech, including hyperbole,
antithesis, and irony.
Chen Yan (
陈彦
)
–
A renowned linguist and
philologist in the field of Chinese language and
lexicology. His research covered the formation
and function of idioms and metaphors in the
Chinese language.
Huang Shunzhen (
黄
顺贞
)
–
A leading scholar of
Chinese literature, Huang devoted much of his
work to studying literary devices such as
metaphor and metonymy in both classical and
modern Chinese literature.
These and other scholars have contributed to the
theoretical
analysis,
classification,
and
interpretation
of
figurative
language,
emphasizing its role in Chinese written and oral
traditions.
C
ONCLUSION
Figurative language is an integral part of the
Chinese language, extending beyond poetry and
literature. It serves as a vital tool for conveying
complex ideas and emotions, enriching speech,
and adding depth to expression. Idioms,
metaphors, hyperbole, and other stylistic devices
provide key insights into Chinese culture and
mentality.
Chinese scholars have primarily focused on the
study of metaphors in literature. Meanwhile, from
the 19th century onwards, global scholars began
researching metaphor as an academic subject,
which later became a focus within the field of
linguistics.
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(ISSN
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VOLUME
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Pages:
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OCLC
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1368736135
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