Metaphor, Nation and Discourse

This edited volume examines how metaphors and related phenomena (e.g. metonymies, symbols, cultural models, stereotypes) lead to the discursive construction of a common element that brings the nation together.

A red and grey illustrated rose, on a blue background. The front page of the book "Metaphor, Nation and Discourse"
Photo: John Benjamins Publishing Company

Contemporary and historical discourses

The central idea is that metaphor use must be questioned to lay bare the processes and the discursive power behind them. The chapters examine a range of contemporary and historical discourses, including politicians’ discourse, presidential speeches, newspapers, TV series, Catholic homilies, colonialist discourse, and various online sources. The approaches taken include political science, international relations, cultural studies, and linguistics.

Metaphor as a framing device

All contributions – including Stijn Vervaet's “Let’s Work on our Serbian!” and Visnja Cicin-Sain's "Metaphors for language contact and change" – feature discursive constructivist views of metaphor, with clear sociocultural grounding, and the notion of metaphor as a framing device in constructing various aspects of nations and national identity.

The volume, edited by Ljiljana Šarić and Mateusz-Milan Stanojević, will appeal to scholars in discourse analysis, metaphor studies, media studies, nationalism studies, and political science.

 

The book is available at John Benjamins Publishing Company

By Ljiljana Šarić
Published Sep. 29, 2019 12:22 PM - Last modified Aug. 4, 2022 10:59 AM