Journal of Beijing International Studies University ›› 2017, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (6): 26-39.DOI: 10.12002/j.bisu.094

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The Construction of China-related International Relationship by Multimodal Metaphor Scenarios: The Social Dimension of Multimodal Metaphor

ZHAO Xiufeng   

  1. China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
  • Received:2016-11-30 Online:2018-03-19 Published:2017-12-15

多模态隐喻场景对涉华国际关系的建构——多模态隐喻研究的社会维度

赵秀凤   

  1. 赵秀凤,中国石油大学(北京)外国语学院
  • 作者简介:赵秀凤,中国石油大学(北京)外国语学院教授,102249,研究方向:认知语言学、多模态研究。电子邮箱:xiufeng96@126.com
  • 基金资助:
    本文为以下项目的阶段性研究成果:教育部人文社会科学研究规划基金项目“叙事‘语篇视角’的认知诗学研究”(项目编号:13YJA740082)、中国石油大学(北京)中央高校科研基本业务费资助项目“后现代哲学视野下现当代小说的认知诗学研究”(项目编号:2462015YQ0901)、中国石油大学(北京)校级教改课题“语言艺术与审美”。

Abstract: From the social dimension of multimodal metaphor, the present study takes as examples the multimodal metaphorical discourses related to China in the Economist to conduct a critical analysis over the construction of social phenomenon by multimodal scenarios. Meticulous corpus-based analysis discovers five frequent metaphor scenarios: CONFLICT/WAR, CONTEST, GAME/PERFORMANCE, JOURNEY and FRIENDS/LIFE, of which CONFLICT/WAR is the most frequent, nearly up to 50%. This paper resorts to instance analysis to reveal the myth how CONFLICT/WAR metaphor scenarios are employed to construct negative image of China. By virtue of collaborations of such multimodal means as images, colors, space arrangement as well as linear verbal texts, this type of multimodal metaphor scenarios interweave metonymy and metaphor chains into fictive narrative scenarios, invoking story logics to construe the target concepts. Data analysis reveals that such subdomains within the source domain as means of KILLING, WEAPON, DEFENCE WORKS are profiled and selectively mapped into the target domains, concertedly constructing an unified image of hegemony, charged with negative assumptions and critical stance. This image conforms to the entrenched stereotypes, but also facilities its media mission of shaping and spreading the public opinion of CHINA THREAT. In regard to the nature of propaganda, readers are encouraged to adopt a critical view with strong awareness of the constructiveness of metaphor scenario.

Keywords: multimodal metaphor; metaphor scenario; international relations; social dimension; international image; cartoons

摘要: 本文从关注多模态隐喻的社会维度出发,以《经济学人》涉华国际关系政治漫画为例,批评分析多模态隐喻场景对涉华国际关系的建构。统计分析表明,《经济学人》主要使用五类隐喻场景建构涉华国际关系:冲突/ 战争场景、竞赛场景、游戏/ 表演场景、旅程场景和交友/ 生活场景,其中“冲突/ 战争”类使用频率最高,接近50%。本文结合实例,重点分析该类场景对中国负面国际形象的隐喻建构。该类漫画基于图画、颜色、空间等视觉元素和长篇文字的协同作用,把系列转喻和隐喻链整合成虚拟故事框架,突显战争相关的某些次域如吞并、杀戮、论战、现代武器、传统防御等结构或属性特征,映射中国的崛起和强势。这既符合西方人头脑中关于中国的刻板印象,又恰到好处地实现有效塑造和传播中国威胁的媒体使命。对此,读者应有清醒的认识,采用批判的眼光理解媒体对现实的建构性本质。

关键词: 多模态隐喻, 隐喻场景, 国际关系, 社会维度, 国际形象, 漫画

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