Author(s): WU Jin
Pages: 111-114
Year: 2000 Issue:  4
Journal: JOURNAL OF SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY
Keyword:  the art of language use in composing songs; sentential metaphor; discourse metaphor; distant association;
Abstract: Metaphorical expressions in songs may be divided into two types: sentential metaphor and discourse metaphor. The former is contained in a sentence and the latter may involve the whole song or relatively independent stanzas. A metaphorical expression embodies a contrastive relationship, i.e. concealing and clarifying. In the contemporary composition of songs, however,not all metaphorical expressions aim at clarifying the subject, but at enhancing or developing the image of the subject through its association with the vehicle, which may result in a rich aesthetic significance. On the other hand, the subject and the vehicle in some contemporary songs are quite distant from each other in terms of their natural characteristics, and the modes of expression are unconventional. If used properly, metaphorical expressions may leave spacious room for rich association and delightful aesthetic appreciation of the art of composing song verses.