Arming and disarming. Metaphorical expressions in political discourse

According to Cognitive Metaphor Theory, metaphorical expressions are considered to be a projection of a clearer and more easily comprehensible cognitive structure on a more abstract or complicated target domain. In other words, metaphorical expressions explain complicated and more abstract notions in terms of easier and less abstract phenomena. However, the choice of a source and a target domain often imposes a certain point of view and sanctions specific interpretations. This characteristic of metaphorical expressions makes them an extremely useful device for political persuasion.
Since the emergence of Cognitive Metaphor Theory there has been a growing number of research focused on the relations between figurative language, power and ideology. This paper focuses on processes of arming and disarming metaphorical expressions in political discourse. The author outlines basic tenets of Cognitive Metaphor Theory, as well as some of its implications on the relations between figurative language, persuasion and ideology. This paper gives also a very concise overview of previous research on arming and disarming metaphorical expressions by Teresa Dobrzyńska [1994] and a study on metaphorical expressions and ideology by Michael Billig and Katie Macmillan [2005].
 

According to Cognitive Metaphor Theory, metaphorical expressions are considered to be a projection of a clearer and more easily comprehensible cognitive structure on a more abstract or complicated target domain. In other words, metaphorical expressions explain complicated and more abstract notions in terms of easier and less abstract phenomena. However, the choice of a source and a target domain often imposes a certain point of view and sanctions specific interpretations. This characteristic of metaphorical expressions makes them an extremely useful device for political persuasion.
Since the emergence of Cognitive Metaphor Theory there has been a growing number of research focused on the relations between figurative language, power and ideology. This paper focuses on processes of arming and disarming metaphorical expressions in political discourse. The author outlines basic tenets of Cognitive Metaphor Theory, as well as some of its implications on the relations between figurative language, persuasion and ideology. This paper gives also a very concise overview of previous research on arming and disarming metaphorical expressions by Teresa Dobrzyńska [1994] and a study on metaphorical expressions and ideology by Michael Billig and Katie Macmillan [2005].