Location
Stewart Center 313
Session Number
Session 14: TERRORISM IN GERMAN MEDIA DISCOURSE AND THE VISUAL ARTS
Start Date
9-9-2011 1:30 PM
End Date
9-9-2011 3:00 PM
Abstract
Abstract concepts such as terrorism are often expressed and conceptualized via metaphors, especially in the mass media discourse. In cognitive linguistics, the role of metaphors in describing emotional states is widely recognized, but the emotional content of metaphors not referring to emotions, but to abstract concepts, remains an important subject deserving research. In our paper, we want to show how terrorism is metaphorically characterized in German media discourse in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks September 2001. Based on extensive data from German newspapers, our aim is to reveal the complex conceptualization involved, focusing on the persuasive aspect of information dealing with emotions.
Metaphors for Terrorism in German Media Discourse
Stewart Center 313
Abstract concepts such as terrorism are often expressed and conceptualized via metaphors, especially in the mass media discourse. In cognitive linguistics, the role of metaphors in describing emotional states is widely recognized, but the emotional content of metaphors not referring to emotions, but to abstract concepts, remains an important subject deserving research. In our paper, we want to show how terrorism is metaphorically characterized in German media discourse in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks September 2001. Based on extensive data from German newspapers, our aim is to reveal the complex conceptualization involved, focusing on the persuasive aspect of information dealing with emotions.
Comments
Key words: cognitive linguistics, conceptualization, emotion, media discourse, metaphor, persuasion