Western Media Perception of the Spy Swap 2010: What Metaphors Construe

Authors

  • Liudmila Arcimavičienė Vilnius University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.sal.0.21.2352

Keywords:

metaphor themes, modern politics, spy swap 2010, news media, rationalism

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the cognitive perception of the spy swap (July 8-11, 2010) in the British and American media by reconstructing metaphorical frames and examining their  implications. For that purpose, more than thirty British and American press sources were collected and analysed in the theoretical framework of cognitive linguistics (the Pragglejaz Group’s MIP). The findings reveal that the reconstructed frames of the BUSINESS, RELATIONSHIP and MORALITY metaphors in the collected sample evoke rational approach to solving political problems in the U.S. – Russia diplomatic relations. This gives evidence to the fact that despite deeply entrenched cognitive model of pragmatism on the part of Russia and the U.S. (‘world Superpowers’), Western media perceives rational politics as more acceptable thus morally right.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sal.0.21.2352

Author Biography

Liudmila Arcimavičienė, Vilnius University

Vilnius University, Institute of Foreign Languages, Department of Social Sciences and Humanities

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Published

2012-12-10

Issue

Section

SOCIOLINGUISTICS