Metaphors used in headlines of some electronic articles on US presidential election campaign 2012 a study from cognitive perspective

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES NGUYỄN THỊ THU HẰNG METAPHORS USED IN HEADLINES OF SOME ELECTRONIC ARTICLES ON US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2012: A STUDY FROM COGNITIVE PERSPECTIVE (Các phép ẩn dụ tiêu đề số báo điện tử viết chiến dịch tranh cử tổng thống Mỹ năm 2012: Nghiên cứu từ góc độ tri nhận) M.A MINOR THESIS Field: English Linguistics Code: 60220201 Hanoi, 2016 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES NGUYỄN THỊ THU HẰNG METAPHORS USED IN HEADLINES OF SOME ELECTRONIC ARTICLES ON US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2012: A STUDY FROM COGNITIVE PERSPECTIVE (Các phép ẩn dụ tiêu đề số báo điện tử viết chiến dịch tranh cử tổng thống Mỹ năm 2012: Nghiên cứu từ góc độ tri nhận) M.A MINOR THESIS Field: English Linguistics Code: 60220201 Supervisor: Assoc Prof Dr Lâm Quang Đông Hanoi, 2016 DECLARATION I, the undersigned, hereby certify my authority of the study project report entitled “Metaphors used in headlines of some electronic articles on US presidential election campaign 2012: A study from cognitive perspective” submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in English Linguistics Except where the reference is indicated, no other person‟s work has been used without due acknowledgement in the text of the thesis Hanoi, 2016 Nguyen Thi Thu Hang i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would have never been able to complete my MA thesis without the enthusiastic guidance of Assoc Prof Dr Lam Quang Dong, my supervisor, who has patiently and constantly supported me through each stage of my study as well as provided me with invaluable comments I am also grateful for his precious ideas which have inspired me greatly through my growth as an academic researcher A special thank also goes to all the lecturers and the staff in Faculty of PostGraduate Studies and many others, who have created favorable conditions for me to fulfill my MA dissertation, and without whose encouragement it would never have been possible for me to have this thesis accomplished A special appreciation is also sent to my peers in Master classes, Cohort 22 for their both in-time advices and priceless suggestions which they have supplied me I am indebted to them for their time and sympathies that they have shared with me during the process of my research writing Last but not least, I am greatly indebted to my family for the sacrifice they have devoted to the fulfillment of this academic work ii ABSTRACT This MA minor thesis investigates the use of metaphors in headlines of some electronic articles on US presidential election campaign 2012 As the study applied the theoretical framework proposed by Lakoff and Johnson (1980), all three kinds of metaphors including structural, orientational, and ontological metaphors were found in 75 news headlines Among 85 metaphorical expressions discovered in 75 article headlines, 67 were labeled as structural metaphors, making up 78.8% It turned out that war terms appeared with the highest frequency among other source domains like sport competition, race, game, and business While orientational metaphors were realized through 10 metaphorical expressions (corresponding to 11.8%), ontological metaphors were depicted in only (equivalent to 9.4%) By analyzing how three kinds of metaphors employed in such political news headlines, the study is expected to partly reveal the conceptual frame of American people towards politics in general and election news in particular iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABSTRACT PART A: INTRODUCTION Rationale Aims of the study Scope of the study Significance of the study Research methodology 5.1.Research questions 5.2.Research approach 5.3.Research methods 5.4.Data analysis 5.5.Data collection procedures Design of the study PART B: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW Theoretical background 1.1.Cognitive linguistics 1.2.Metaphor 1.2.1 Traditional views on metaphor 1.2.2 Metaphor under the light of cognitive linguistics 1.2.3 Classification of metaphor Literature review 2.1.Metaphors in news headlines 2.2.Metaphors in politics CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 2.1.Research questions 2.2.Research methods 2.3.Research procedures iv 2.4.Data collection and data analysis 2.4.1 Data collec 2.4.2 Data analys CHAPTER 3: DATA ANALYSIS 3.1.Structural metaphors 3.1.1 Politics is war 3.1.2 Politics is sport competition 3.1.3 Politics is race 3.1.4 Politics is game 3.1.5 Politics is business 3.2.Orientational metaphors 3.2.1 Having control is up 3.2.2 More is up, less is down 3.2.3 Less is behind 3.2.4 Foreseeable future events are ahead 3.3.Ontological metaphors 3.3.1 Nonhuman entities carry human capacities 3.3.2 Abstracts are things CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 4.1.Findings 4.2.Discussion PART C: CONCLUSION Recapitulation Limitations and suggestions for further research Implications REFERENCES APPENDIX APPENDIX v LIST OF TABLES AND CHARTS Table 3.1: Frequency of source domains in structural metaphors Chart 4.1: Proportions of three kinds of metaphors Chart 4.2: Proportions of source domains used in structural metaphors vi PART A: INTRODUCTION Rationale It is taken for granted that politics-related language is rigid, standardized and conventional However, metaphor, which is considered a very interesting linguistic phenomenon, can also be employed effectively in the field of politics, making political news become friendlier and less superior to the public For this reason, the author is desirous of investigating how metaphors are used in the headlines of some electronic articles on US presidential election campaign 2012 It is undeniable that metaphors are not only a promising land for writers‟ creativity to take off but also a product of minds, intellect and cognitive system According to Lakoff and Johnson (1980), this rhetorical device is not only considered a characteristic of language, but it is also a matter of thought and action Likewise, it is hoped that, under the lens of cognitive linguistics, this research paper will provide readers with a clear description of metaphors used in the headlines of such political articles Among series of political events during the last years, the US election campaign in 2012 emerged as the most striking one that the whole world kept track of As a matter of fact, the political campaign was actually the close race between the President Barack Obama – a prominent representative of Democratic Party and Mitt Romney – an outstanding nominee of Republican Party Therefore, it comes as no surprise that almost all of the headlines used to analyze in this dissertation portray the fierce competition between these two candidates With the hope of elaborating on the nature of metaphors in political news, the research paper will discuss the relationship between the source domains and target domains in structural metaphors as well as uncover kinds of metaphors employed in those headlines It is also expected that the researcher can discover the most pervasive kind of metaphor, the most dominant source domain in order to show readers the logical relationship between the human conceptual system and the language of politics Last but not least, there is little research exploring metaphors in the context of politics, which urges the author to investigate how this kind of meaning transference is employed in such election news Aims of the study The research paper is aimed at: - Pointing out the kinds of metaphors exploited in those political headlines This aim can be achieved on the ground of Lakoff and Johnson‟s view in their famous book titled “Metaphors we live by” (2003) - Exploring how those metaphors are used in such political headlines, and identifying the most pervasive source domains of structural metaphors - Suggesting some implications for the process of teaching, learning and translating metaphors Scope of the study The study focuses on the headlines of electronic articles whose contents are about the US presidential election 2012 These articles are taken from such electronic newspaper agencies as Red Alert Politics, Huff Post, CNN News, USA Today, New York Times, and CBS News All of them are famous, prestigious newspaper agencies which always updated American people and global citizens on the developments of the US presidential election in 2012 Significance of the study In terms of theoretical aspect, the research paper may not only provide useful contributions to studies of linguistic units from cognitive perspective but also shed light on other studies in the field of politics In terms of practical significance, the research is expected to encourage other linguistic researchers to carry out similar studies investigating the function of metaphors in the field of politics Besides, it is hoped that this MA thesis will supply readers a deeper understanding about how metaphors are used in election news The study is also believed to reveal the pervasive usage of sport and war terms in structural metaphors found in those political headlines Lastly, some applications in teaching and translating are also found to be useful for both English teachers and translators Research methodology 5.1 Research questions - How can the metaphors in the chosen newspaper headlines be categorized based on the classification of Lakoff and Johnson? APPENDIX Headlines’ sources USA Today‟s Staff (2012) Mitt Romney returns to attacking Obama USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/11/01/romneycampaign-virginia-last-days/1673693/ USA Today‟s Staff (2012) Romney assails Obama on Middle East USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2012/10/08/romney-foreignpolicy-speech-obama-libya/1619729/ William, M W (2012) Obama, Romney battle over economic visions USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/10/03/debateobama-romney-election/1611397/ Oconnel, F (2012) Why Mitt Romney and Barack Obama are battling for the rural vote US News http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/fordoconnell/2012/06/15/key-to-presidential-election-lies-in-rural-america Thrush, G (2012) In presidential debate, Obama fights back Politico http://www.politico.com/story/2012/10/obama-fights-back-082508 Jones, S (2012) Obama fires back against Mitt Romney‟s campaign of welfare lies Politicus USA http://www.politicususa.com/2012/08/14/obamaswinging-mitt-romneys-campaign-deceit.html Press, A (2012) President Obama defends his foreign-policy record, fires back at Mitt Romney Cleveland http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2012/09/obama_defends_his_foreign -poli.html Janes, M (2012) Mc Cain defends Romney campaign USA Today.http://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2012/09/19/mccain-defendsromney/1580759/ Henderson, N M & Nakamura, D (2012) President Obama attacks Mitt Romney‟s jobs plan The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2012/07/16/gJQAVFLipW_story.html VI 10 Wyler, G (2012) Mitt Romney absolutely destroyed Obama in the first presidential debate Business Insider http://www.businessinsider.com/romneyzingers-debate-obama-2012-10 11 William, M W (2012) Obama, Romney go on attack in final debate USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/10/22/debate-obamaromney-foreign-policy/1650331/ 12 Demirjian, K (2012) GOP attacks on front-runner Romney might help Obama in Nevada Lasvegas Sun.http://lasvegassun.com/news/2012/jan/11/attacks-front-runner-romney-mayresonate-nevada/ 13 Cohen, T (2012) Obama takes key battlegrounds to win re-election CNN News http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/06/politics/election-2012/ 14 The Week Staff (2012) Romney and Obama‟s social-media war: By the numbers The Week http://theweek.com/articles/471182/romney-obamas- socialmedia-war-by-numbers 15 Kudlow, L (2012) Optimism turns out to be secret weapon for Romney The New York Sun http://www.nysun.com/national/optimism-turns-out-to-besecret-weapon-for-romney/88064/ 16 Madison, L (2012) In final debate, fierce battle over foreign policy CBS News http://www.cbsnews.com/news/in-final-debate-fierce-battle-over-foreignpolicy/ 17 Kroll, A (2012) The devastating Bain Ad that could „kill‟ Romney in Ohio Mother Johns http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/11/obama- super-pac-election-ohio-priorities-usa-action 18 Montanaro, D & Loffman, M (2012) Obama: Romney tends to „shoot‟ first and „aim‟ later NBC News http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/12/13833174-obama-respondsromney-tends-to-shoot-first-and-aim-later 19 Baker, P (2012) The second presidential debate: Obama strikes back The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/us/politics/in-seconddebate-obama-strikes-back.html?_r=0 VII 20 Messina, I (2012) Romney says it‟s time to fire Coach Obama The Blade http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2012/09/02/Romney-says-it-s-time-to-fireCoach-Obama.html 21 Saine, C (2012) Obama, Romney continue battlefor women‟s votes VOA News http://m.voanews.com/a/obama_and_romney_continue_battle_for_womens_vot es/1538520.html 22 William, M W (2012) Romney attacks Obama‟s foreign policy USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/10/22/debate-obamaromney-foreign-policy/1650331/ 23 Group of authors (2012) Scenes from the political battlefront The New Media Bureau http://www.ucjournalism.org/archives/2720 24 Zularwik, D (2012) In TV terms, Obama struggles, Romney dominates first debate The Baltimore Sun http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-1004/entertainment/bal-tv-debate-obama-struggles-romney-dominates20121003_1_gop-candidate-mitt-romney-obama-struggles-tv-terms 25 Cohen, T (2012) Romney, Republicans increase attacks on Obama CNN News http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/14/politics/campaign-wrap/ 26 Presutti, C (2012) In close race, Obama battles for second term VOA News http://www.voanews.com/content/article/1538579.html 27 ABC News Staff (2012) Polls show Romney behind Obama in battle ground states ABC News http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/mitt-romney-obama- battleground-states-polls-17327122 28 Acosta, J (2012) Romney campaign: No „knock-out punch‟ planned CNN News http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/03/romney-campaign-noknock-out-punch-planned/ 29 Dickinson, T (2012) The final presidential debate: Four punches that knockedout Mitt Romney VIII Rolling Stone http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-four-punches-that-knocked-outromney-20121023 30 Borowitz, A (2012) Debate ends abruptly as Obama punches Romney in face The New Yorker http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz- report/debate-ends-abruptly-as-obama-punches-romney-in-face 31 Lupica, M (2012) Mitt Romney shows he‟s no expert on foreign policy, but seems to avoid getting knocked out by Obama Daily News http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/lupica-romney-avoids-knockedforeign-policy-debate-article-1.1189926 32 Sullivan, S (2012) Why isn‟t Oregon a slam dunk for Obama? The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the- fix/wp/2012/11/01/why-isnt-oregon-a-slam-dunk-for-president-obama/ 33 Raton, B (2012) Neck and neck, Romney and Obama enter home stretch in presidential race Bay News http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/ne ws/articles/bn9/2012/10/23/neck_and_neck_romney.html 34 Sinderbrand, R (2012) Obama didn‟t score knockout but landed more punches CNN News analysis/index.html 35 Conley, R (2012) Romney drops the ball on Lybia in last presidential debate Red Alert Politics http://redalertpolitics.com/2012/10/22/romney-dropsthe-ball-on-libya-question-in-last-presidential-debate/ 36 Jerry, K (2012) Obama, Romney neck and neck months ahead of election Los Angeles Times http://articles.latimes.com/2012/may/07/news/la-pn-poll-obama-romneyneck-and-neck-six-months-ahead-of-election-20120507 37 Jackson, D (2012) Obama throws penalty flag on Romney economic plan USA Today http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/09/obama-callspenalty-on-romney-economic-plan/1#.VlvnZnbhDIU IX 38 Hampton, A (2012) Romney says US needs „new coach‟, promises „winningseason again‟ The Hill http://thehill.com/video/campaign/247061romney-on-opening-day-us-needs-a-new-coach 39 Miller, E (2012) Romney on the fast track The Washington Times http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/16/romney-on-the-fast-track/ 40 Garcia, M T (2012) Obama hits a home run against Mitt Romney last night National Catholic Reporter http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/obamahit-home-run-against-romney-last-night 41 Adams, K (2012) Obama, Romney neck-and-neck in Wisconsin Real Clear Politics http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/10/22/obama_romney_neck-andneck_in_wisconsin_115888.html 42 Foxnews Staff (2012) NBA passes the ball to Romney, benches Obama Fox Nation http://nation.foxnews.com/2012-presidential-race/2012/08/22/nbapasses-ball-romney-benches-obama 43 Feller, B & Pickler, N (2012) Obama on marathon tour; Romney runsacross Ohio Associated Press http://news.yahoo.com/obama-marathontour-romney-runs-across-ohio-181238031 election.html 44 Baker, P (2012) For the president, punch, punch, another punch The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/us/politics/in-second-debate-obamastrikes-back.html?_r=0 45 Sherman, T (2012) Obama wins 2012 presidential election, defeats Romney in tight race NJ.comhttp://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/11/obama_wins_2012_presid ential_e.html 46 Benac, N (2012) Barrack Obama, Mitt Romney seek foreign policy edge in final debate as race tightens National Post http://news.nationalpost.com/news/barack-obama-mitt-romney-seek-foreignpolicy-edge-in-final-debate-as-race-tightens X 47 Bowman, M (2012) Obama, Romney race to close election finish VOA News http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-romney-race-to-close-electionfinish/1539113.html 48 Malone, J (2012) Polls show very tight US presidential race VOA News http://www.voanews.com/content/polls-show-very-tight-us-presidentialrace/1534225.html 49 Benac, N & Thomas, K (2012) Obama, Mitt Romney dash to finish line Huff Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/23/presidential-election2012_n_2004875.html 50 Pew, R (2012) Presidential race dead even; Romney maintains turnout edge People Press http://www.people-press.org/2012/10/29/presidential-racedead-even-romney-maintains-turnout-edge/?beta=true&utm_expid=530982462.Lly4CFSVQG2lphsg-KopIg.1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F %2Fwww.google.com.vn%2F 51 Pickler, N & Thomas, K (2012) Obama, Romney race to the finish line Huff Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/23/presidential-election2012_n_2006458.html 52 Walsh, K T (2012) Obama wins a second term with a strong ground game US News http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/11/07/obama-winsa-second-term-with-a-strong-ground-game 53 Peek, L (2012) The game plan that lets Romney beat Obama The Fiscal Times http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2012/03/14/The-Game-Planthat-Lets-Romney-Beat-Obama 54 Robson, N (2012) Economic fairness isn‟t enough for Obama‟s game plan The Daily Beast http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/12/michaeltomasky-economic-fairness-isn-t-enough-for-obama-s-game-plan.html XI 55 National Journal‟s Staff (2012) Obama‟s gamble The National Journal http://www.nationaljournal.com/columns/political-connections/obama-s-biggamble-20120628 56 USA Graham, B (2012) Obama, Romney try to play it safe in 2012 gamble Today http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-05- 26/obama-romney-safe-campaign/55215034/1 57 Sargent, G (2012) The Obama campaign‟s real game plan The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-obamacampaigns-real-game-plan/2012/08/02/gJQA2vC8RX_blog.html 58 Cassidy, J (2012) Obama‟s game plan: Let‟s make this all about the Republicans The New Yorker http://www.newyorker.com/news/johncassidy/obamas-game-plan-lets-make-this-all-about-the-republicans 59 Ball, M (2012) Obama‟s edge: the ground game that could put him over the top The Atlantic http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/10/obamas-edge-the-groundgame-that-could-put-him-over-the-top/264031/ 60 Welsh, T (2012) Was the first presidential debate a game-changer for Mitt Romney? 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