Temporal notion metaphorically used for love in English and Vietnamese

Abstract

Love – an abstract concept becomes more concrete and easier to understand in temporal language including chronological and kairotic terms. In the light of the conceptual metaphor theory launched by Lakoff and Johnson (1980), eight source domains for love are found underlying 204 temporal expressions (80 English and 124 Vietnamese). All the conceptual metaphors and many of the metaphorical expressions are the same in the two languages. These resemblances may be shed light on by the universality of metaphor and the objectiveness of time. However, language is a cultural factor; it develops in the relationship with the culture. Hence, coming from two different cultures, the temporal terms employed to relate love are not completely similar between English and Vietnamese.