A Cognitive Study of Tortoise Imageries in Chinese Metaphorical Idioms of Tortoises and Suggestions for Its Application in Teaching Chinese to Thai Students

Abstract

This study took tortoise imageries in the 29 Chinese tortoise metaphorical idioms included in the Dictionary of Chinese Idioms as the object of study and analyzed them by using the metaphor and imagery theories of cognitive linguistics.  It also explored the ways to understand the semantic meanings of the Chinese tortoise metaphorical idioms and suggested the application of the findings of this study in teaching Chinese tortoise metaphorical idioms to Thai students. The study found that Chinese metaphorical idioms of tortoises exhibited 14 types of tortoise imageries to demonstrate the semantic meaning by using sacred tortoise and ordinary tortoise metaphors. The idioms also used two combinations of juxtaposition and contrast to construct 13 other forms of imagery to assist in demonstrating the semantic meaning. This study also found that understanding the semantic meanings of Chinese metaphorical idioms of tortoises can be based on analyzing the metaphorical mechanism of tortoise imageries. Based on the findings, this study suggested that teachers should emphasize the analysis of the metaphorical mechanism of tortoise imageries in teaching Chinese tortoise metaphorical idioms to Thai students, adopt the imagery teaching method, and incorporate this study's findings into their teaching to help their students better understand the semantic meanings of the idioms and acquire the idioms.