Los símbolos en la lengua y la cultura chinasaproximación a un estudio contrastivo en la fraseología china y española

Abstract

The present thesis addresses the study of symbols in Chinese phraseology and their comparison with those in Spanish phraseology from a cultural perspective. The inextricable relationship between language and culture, confirmed by numerous publications from various viewpoints, is highlighted. Both symbols, as essential representatives of knowledge in language, art, literature and religion, among other cultural aspects, and phraseological units, as linguistic preservers of collective knowledge within a community, illustrate the interaction and convergence between language and culture. The general objective of the research is, on the one hand, to identify the similarities and differences in symbolism present in the phraseology of both Chinese and Spanish languages, and, on the other hand, to determine the sociocultural aspects and psychological mechanisms that influence these similarities and differences. To achieve this purpose, an extensive bibliographic review is conducted, covering the concepts of phraseology and symbol, as well as aspects related to the formation of symbolic meanings in Chinese and Spanish phraseology, based on the existing connections with history, sociocultural development, and classical and literary works. The review of the specialized bibliography on phraseology highlights the difficulty of establishing equivalences in phraseological categories between the Chinese and Spanish languages, due to differences in both terms of their characteristics and classification criteria. The importance of fixation as an applicable criterion in both phraseologies is emphasized, as well as idiomaticity in order to establish similarities between certain phraseological categories in Chinese and Spanish. Based on these criteria and considering the syntagmatic or oracular characteristics of Chinese phraseological units, a classification is proposed, with the purpose of facilitating the comprehension of phraseological concepts in the context of Chinese-Spanish Contrastive Phraseology. As for the study of symbols in Chinese phraseology, it is decided to work with those directly related to the cultural context of Confucianism and mythology (and religions), due to the significance of these areas in Chinese culture and language. The concept of 君子 [Junzi; person with moral integrity] represents an exemplary image of the Confucian moral quest and is a constitutive element of many phraseological units. In addition, various material symbols, such as ume, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum and pine, together with the unique Chinese mineral, jade, are selected to illustrate this concept. Regarding Chinese mythology (and religions), symbols such as 阎王 [god of death], 鬼 [ghost], 神 [god], 仙 [immortal] and 佛 [Buddha], are considered representative of Taoist and Buddhist religions and the Five Colours are seen as representations of mythological symbols. The results of the study of these symbols show that Chinese Confucian, mythological and religious thoughts have a fundamental impact on the formation of the symbolic meanings of the symbols present in Chinese phraseology. However, there are many other intrinsic factors that contribute to their explanation, including influences from literature (especially poems and novels) and history, physical characteristics of the symbol, norms and institutions of the ruling class, cross-cultural communication, among others. From the psychological perspective, it is observed that psychological mechanisms, such as Pavlovian conditioning, the law of similarity and empathy, explain the formation of symbolic meanings of botanical symbols, while religious symbols have foundations in awe and fear, belief and worship, disgust and contempt. Chromatic symbols can address all these aspects mentioned above. After examining the selected symbolisms in Chinese phraseology, an exhaustive comparative analysis is conducted between Chinese and Spanish phraseology, starting from the presence and usage of the symbols in Spanish phraseology that were analyzed for Chinese phraseology, while providing suitable substitutes for absent symbols. The comparisons not only identify linguistic and symbolic similarities, but also reveal the significant preference in the selection of botanical symbols to express similar symbolic meanings by the Chinese and Spanish populations due to geographical and climatic differences, although the psychological mechanisms behind the expression of both communities are similar. As for the study of chromatic words, the combination of universalist and relativist theories seems more appropriate. Finally, four categories of qualitative equivalence between Chinese and Spanish phraseological units are identified: total phraseological equivalence (syntactic and symbolic), partial phraseological equivalence, non-phraseological correspondence and null correspondence. In conclusion, our thesis highlights the importance of sociocultural backgrounds in the formation of symbolic meanings in Chinese and Spanish phraseology, which significantly vary among different populations. At the same time, similarities in the formation of these meanings, often explained by similar psychological mechanisms, are evidenced. With this research, we provide a relevant contribution and an innovative approach to teaching phraseology in the Chinese-Spanish language combination, while enhancing intercultural communication.