LOSS AND GAIN PHENOMENA IN THE ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF CONCEPTUAL METAPHORS OF “HUMAN STATUS” IN TRINH CONG SON’S SONGS

Abstract

Basing mainly on the theories of Lakoff and Turner (1989), and Kovecses (2010), this paper investigates the Loss and Gain phenomena of cognitive metaphors (CMs) expressing the concept of “Human status” in the English translations of Trinh Cong Son’s (TCS’s) songs. As a perceptual and conceptualizing tool, CMs can help us perceive the world we live in, conceptualize experience and gives us new perspectives of things around. The samples used in the article are gathered from many TCS\'s songs through means of questionnaires and interview with the cooperation of 100 first-year students of Da Nang College of Foreign Languages. The findings of the study reveal a fact that both Loss and Gain phenomena take place in the translational versions in terms of Semantics and Syntax. The study can contribute a significant part to the areas of Translation studies, Language studies, Cross-culture, and Literary criticism.