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The Expressions of Metaphor in
English and Vietnamese by Using
Human Body Parts
SMART M O V E S J O U R N A L IJELLH
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300
The Expressions of Metaphor in English and Vietnamese by
Using Human Body Parts
Bui Thu Huong, M.A
Faculty of Foreign Languages,
Ba Ria-Vung Tau University
Vietnam
Abstract:
This paper briefly analyzes the metaphorical uses of human body parts in English and
Vietnamese. The study aims at identifying the target themes of metaphorical expressions
containing human parts of body
namely “head”, “face” “hand” and “heart” in the two
languages as well as similar details of patterns of usage in a case-study analysis of selected
expressions. Findings show that the two languages mostly share the range of phenomena
related to metaphorical uses of human body parts. At the same time, the study reveals a
remarkable difference in the connotation, and usage patterns of the expressions analyzed in
details. The results provide supports for the cross-linguistic usage, and imply a vital need to
investigate the context of metaphorical expressions in order to bring to light the inherent
conceptualizations in two languages.
Keywords: human body parts, metaphor, idioms, Vietnamese, English