A Study on the experiential cognition of the metaphorical concept of "Tiger" in Chinese and Thai Languages

Abstract

This study is based on the theory of experiential cognitive linguistics to explore the similarities and differences in the meanings of tiger-related words in Chinese and Thai. The research employed the literature review method and comparative analysis to compare 175 tiger-related words selected from the "Modern Chinese Dictionary" and "Dictionary of Idioms" in Chinese, with 52 tiger-related words from the "Thai-Chinese Dictionary" and "Royal Institute Dictionary" in Thai. The research found that the semantic extension type of the tiger concept metaphor is closely related to people's experience and perception of tigers. When Chinese and Thai people pay the same attention to tigers, the semantic extension of the concept of tigers in Chinese and Thai languages will overlap; otherwise, there will be semantic dislocation and semantic vacancy. Second, the scope of the metaphorical mapping of the tiger concept involves the conceptual domains related to "people" and "things." Third, there are both commonalities and differences in the conceptual metaphor mapping of Chinese and Thai languages, embodying the complexity in the process of human abstract concept formation. The findings of this study will provide teachers with diverse teaching materials, helping students understand and compare the meanings of tiger-related words in Chinese and Thai, thereby broadening their linguistic perspectives. Additionally, it will facilitate cultural exchange and understanding between Chinese and Thai language learners. From a linguistic perspective, the comparative analysis of tiger-related words in Chinese and Thai contributes to interdisciplinary research collaboration.