Филологические науки/3.Теоретические и методологические

проблемы исследования языка

Ахметова А.Б., Батаева С.Б.

Павлодар мемлекеттік педагогикалық институты, Қазақстан

Functional aspect of metaphor in comparison of English and Kazakh languages

Each language is unique and has its own features. Person, who speaks in any foreign languages, uses a variety of lexical units, different grammatical and phonetic laws of the language. However, it is sometimes difficult for the speaker to understand foreigner as well as to behave and speak appropriately using specific communication strategies.

One of such complicated language tools is metaphor. It is difficult to imagine how "dull" and "poor" would be our language if there were not so bright figurative devices as metaphor.

Metaphor is "a figure of speech, an implied analogy in which one thing is imaginatively compared to or identified with another, dissimilar thing"[1,131].

Lakoff and Johnson defined: “….the essence of metaphor understands and experiences one kind of thing in terms of another.”

The term “metaphor” is known from ancient Greek and ancient Indian searches, (from Greek “metaphora” means “to change”). In English this term was deeply studied by L. Brown, Lakoff and Johnson, Donna Haraway, in Russian by M.V. Lomonosov, A.A. Potebnya, B.S. Meyleh, E.G. Cherkasov and in Kazakh by K. Zhumaliev, Z. Kabdolov, Z. Akhmetov, B. Hasanov A. Kaydarov [2,110].

Metaphor was often used in works of such outstanding and great Kazakh writers and poets as Abai Kunanbaev, Shakarim Kudayberidiev, Magzhan Zhumabayev, etc. But first who coined the term in Kazakh language was Akhmet Baitursynov. He mentioned that “many words often do not use in its first meaning but other one. We can change one word in a similar value but with influence of another for instance, “қырау соққан”, “аяз қарыған” [2,111].

In a group of words each word has absolutely different meaning, but associations coming to one’s mind are very impressive and vivid that makes meaning understand. Such expressions are frequently used in daily life and poetry.

“In the Poetic Aristotle says of metaphor first, that it consists in giving the thing a name that belongs to something else” and the second, that for the poet it is the greatest and the most difficult thing by far to have a command of… Metaphor, after all, is a phenomenon of language and language’s first task is to make possible communication. Thus, insofar as metaphor succeeds in meaning, its purpose, surely, must be conveying of meaning.” [3,209].

Therefore, it is considered that metaphors have important and diverse roles not only in language but also in our lives.

The function of metaphor in literature is twofold. The first, and more practical, function is to allow the reader greater understanding of the concept, object, or character being described. This is done by comparing it to an item that may be more familiar to the reader. The second function is purely artistic: to create an image that is beautiful or profound or otherwise produces the effect that the writer desires. For these reasons, writers have used the metaphor in literature since the earliest recorded stories.

Different scientists distinguish different types of metaphors. But Lakoff and Johnson differentiate three types of metaphor: structural, orientational, and ontological. Structural metaphor is the type we've examined so far-conceiving of one concept in terms of another.

Also we have frequent metaphors tend to fade. By unexpected distinguish true (when we perceive both values simultaneously), worn out (half alive dual perception with the loss of originality).

Worn metaphor is so usual so that its figurative meaning is not captured for example, in Kazakh language, “көктем келді”, “қыс қайтты”.

Determining its role in language V.K. Kharchenko identifies the following functions:

1) Nominative function. The possibility of developing a figurative sense of the word creates a powerful contrast the formation of an infinite number of new words. "Metaphor helps word creation: creation of words without metaphor would be doomed to continue production of more and more words and would burden the human memory is an incredible burden.” ("Today is a king in disguise”, “We are the world” or in Kazakh “уылжыған тәтті жас” (М. Әуезов). It means the age of baby beginning to go or his first words. In central Asia name-metaphors are traditionally used in calling the name of the people as: Күнсұлу, Айжан etc.

2) Informative function. The first feature of information transmitted through the metaphors, is integrity, a panoramic image. Panoramic relies on the visual nature of the image, forcing a new look at the essence of a particular Gnostic vocabulary, specific words, which become the basis, raw materials, the foundation of all metaphors. (“күн құтырып кетті”, in this statement we have an information about the weather or “a mill is a factory).

3) Mnemonic function. Metaphor contributes to a better retention of information. Improved image memorability is due, apparently, its emotional and evaluative nature. For instance, to achieve greater memorability of information the students, teachers can replace them by metaphors. One should call mushrooms natural vacuum cleaners, as they are the best absorb toxins from the soil.

4) Explanatory function. In educational and popular literature metaphors have a very special role in helping to assimilate complex scientific information, terminology. (“My love is like a red rose”, Shakespeare or “жүрегім менің шарықтап, аралап кетті тауларды” – my in the highland).

5) Conspiracy function. The conspiracy function metaphors are used to secret the meaning. (“Қамысты терең көлдің сұқсырымын, Қаңғырған ілдірмейтін қаршығаға”, (Біржан мен Сара айтысынан) in this statements Sara compares herself and Byrzhan-Sal with birds that identifies their characters).

6) Game function. Metaphor is sometimes used as a means of comic in a form of language game. Every man in the gaming behavior realizes the most profound, perhaps, its absolute necessity. As a form of language game metaphor is widely used in works of art. In folklore, there was a form in which leading function of metaphors was to play function. (“Жүзің – наурыз, қасың – мейрам айы” is describing the face beauty of a woman by humorous meaning, “She is as pretty as a picture”).

7) Ritual function. Metaphor is traditionally used in greetings, holiday toasts, as well as an expression of sympathy, compassion. This function can be called ritual. Development of ritual function of metaphor depends on national traditions. So, in the East adopted detailed, lengthy greetings with many comparisons, epithets, metaphors. The ethics of such greetings should not be reduced to flattery. This advance praise, the desire to see an example of wisdom and integrity (for instance, “Wiiriwe ‘hó”? 'Did you survive the day? Good afternoon! (Cow Metaphors Alexandre Kimenyi) or in Kazakh “шаңырағыңыз биік, керегелерің кең болсын!” is the best wishes for couples in marriage).

In conclusion, metaphor is necessary in description the value of human life situation, landscape, their experiences, or any situation. Creative people know how to use metaphors in various situations, events as to make the meaning more picturesque. Poems would be simple and “poor” if the poet did not use metaphors.

Also, it is important to mention that an ability to invent a metaphor is sometimes very difficult for human beings as having unusual thoughts and ideas, making imagination more interesting, full of associations, and easy to understand is great type of art that control only “ talented people”.

References

1) Stock Image Ntc's Dictionary of Literary Terms, Morner, Kathleen;Rausch, Ralph;Ntc Publishing Group, p 131

2) Гуманитарные науки, Ж.Д. Адильбаева ШҚМТУ, Өскемен қ. “Айтыс өлеңдеріндегі метафоралы сөз қолданысы” , p110

3) Ron Bontekoe “The function of metaphor” p 209

4) Lakoff & Johnson, “Metaphors We Live By”, p 4