Conceptual Metaphors of Marriage in English and Vietnamese Idioms and Proverbs: Universal Patterns, Cultural Specificities, and Socio-Cultural Foundations

The present study aims at identifying the socio-cultural bases of similarities and differences of English and Vietnamese idioms and proverbs, especially the conceptual metaphors of marriage, that are universal and culture-specific. The study shows that metaphors can be seen as cognitive tools that retain cultural perceptions and as linguistic devices. It is based on the conceptual metaphor theory by Lakoff and Johnson (1980) [1] and the classification of universal and culture-specific metaphors by Kövecses (2010) [6]. Marriage is an intricate social institution of journeys, contracts, unions, harmony, and destiny. English idioms and proverbs are often based on the Western values of individual choice, equality, and institutional regulation, and often describe marriage as a partnership or contract. Vietnamese proverbs and idioms, however, tend to emphasize family obligations, fate, and harmony, consistent with collectivist values and Confucian traditions. The study also explores the role of idioms in reinforcing or subverting social hierarchies and cultural norms and metaphors related to gender roles and destiny/fate. Idioms have a large degree of metaphorical value, semantic unpredictability, and formal fixity. The features that characterize proverbs are syntactic completeness, pedagogical character, conciseness, and oral transmission. Proverbs and idioms are products of collective wisdom; they transmit cultural norms and influence cognition and behavior. Comparative study shows that English and Vietnamese share common metaphorical structures, but their differences are the symbols of different socio-cultural contexts. The West is founded on Christian theology and individualism; Vietnam is founded on the ethics of Confucianism, the philosophy of Buddhism, and the traditions of the agrarian. The study points to the importance of analogies for understanding cultural diversity and the influence of such diversity on perceptions of one of the most basic institutions of humanity.