METAPHORIC REPRESENTATION OF THE CONCEPT TERRORISM IN THE ENGLISH TABLOID TEXTS

METAPHORIC REPRESENTATION OF THE CONCEPT TERRORISM IN THE ENGLISH TABLOID TEXTS

Author:  E.L. Zaytseva

Affiliation:  The Ulianov Chuvash State University

Abstract:  The article illustrates the author’s take on terrorism studies and eventual counter-terrorism measures by applying metaphor analysis to the British tabloid “The Sun” texts on terrorism of 2001–2005.
It identifies four conceptual metaphors labeling terrorism as a war, a crime, out-of-civilization barbarism and as an untreatable illness and shows how such an interpretation of terrorism makes certain counter-terrorism policies such as a military response or judicial measures acceptable while excluding other options such as negotiations from being considered.
Metaphor analysis highlights reactions previously ignored and opens up new areas of research. Such a metaphorical understanding of terrorism can become the background of how certain policies become possible while others are not appropriate and remain not chosen. The present article would further elaborate a discourse understanding of terrorism and indicate not only terrorism but also counter-terrorism measures. It would be interesting to investigate further the policy options which have fallen outside of the measures against terrorism considered appropriate.

Keywords:  metaphor, terrorism, mass media, war, analysis

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Pages:  76-80