语言学家认为,隐喻不仅仅是一种修辞手段,更是人类思维的重要手段,直接参与人类的认知过程,是人类生存的基本方式。意义投射作为人类思维和认知的一种方式,是隐喻过程的一种抽象载体,在不同的语言系统都得以体现。人类自身在与外部世界相互作用的过程中所获得的感知是人类认识更复杂、更抽象事物的基础。在汉语、英语两种不同类型语言中,“手”词族语义投射的普遍过程为人类思维和认知的共性提供了证明。 Linguists believe that metaphor is not only a rhetorical device, but also an important means of human thinking. Being directly involved in the cognitive process of mankind is the basic way of human existence. Meaning projection, as a way of thinking and cognition of human beings, is an abstract carrier of metaphorical process and can be embodied in different linguistic systems. The perception gained by human beings in their interaction with the outside world is the basis of the more complex and abstract things humankind knows. In both Chinese and English languages, the universal process of semantic projection of “hand ” lexicon proves commonality of human thinking and cognition.