Document Type : Research Paper

Author

• MOHADESEH BARZEGARBAFROUEI

Assistant Professor, University of International Business and Economics, China.

Abstract

Language has a very significant role in transferring culture and vocabulary; in addition, language, as one of the most important elements, plays a fundamental and active role in preserving and transferring the historical and cultural heritage of a nation. This study is based on empiricism and rationalism, two opposing tendencies in semantics, uses the comparative and descriptive method to do research into the word "cow", compares the semantic system of "cow" in Persian and Chinese languages, and looks at the similarities and differences of this word from the aspects of usages and semantics (irony and metaphor) in the literature of the two languages by exploring fourteen dictionaries. The studies show that the word "cow" in the Persian language has a negative and derogatory meaning and is mostly used as a metaphor for stupid, ignorant of etiquette, and cowardly people; while in the Chinese language, the word "cow" is a metaphor for powerful, hardworking, stubborn, boastful, and selfish people. In the ancient Chinese language, the "cow" is a symbol of status and dignity, and in the ancient Persian language, it is a symbol of fertility; because the cow is one of the most useful animals.

Keywords

• cow
• comparative analysis
• meaning
• semantics
• usages

Main Subjects

• Comparison of teaching Persian language with teaching other languages