Metaphors Be With You
“Chinese, just like American English, has its own unique metaphorical idioms. The Chinese, however, do not view their world as a game. And so sport is not a dominant metaphor in China.What is central to Chinese life is family and eating. So while in America politicians are compared to sportsmen—they have to run for and win the election; politicians in China are regarded as parents, fumu guan, meaning father-mother officials. Chinese politicians run their country as a mother and father run their family. No wonder that in Chinese, the word for country is guojia, which literally means: guo = state—jia = family. The famous Chinese thinker Lao Zi (Lao Tzu) stated that ruling a large country is like cooking a delicacy dish. While Americans may view their life as business, Chinese view theirs in terms of eating.” HT: Ninah Beliavsky at the Department of Languages & Literature, St. John’s University, New York
The metaphorical jargon we hear relative to President Obama's fatherly care, “Who's Your Daddy?,” makes a little more sense, doesn't it? Mr. President, as dad, will bring the bacon home and provide enough for all.
G. Mark Sumpter
"There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God." --Psalm 46:4
- Mark Sumpter
- Serving God with His people at Faith OPC has been a great joy and blessing. When I grow up, I want to umpire Little League Baseball. I will revel on that day when I can say to a 10-year-old boy after four pitched balls, "Take a walk in the sunshine." My wife of 30+ years, Peggy, consistently demonstrates the love of Christ and remains my very best friend. Our six children, our four lovely, sweetie-pie daughters-in-law, and our four grandchildren serve as resident theologians.
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