Conceptual metaphors in the discourse of Paksas (2003-2004) ; Konceptualiosios metaforos Rolando Pakso diskurse (2003-2004 m.)

Abstract

In modern democratic societies, political life is embodied through the actions of political parties, their duly elected leaders, and various political ideologies. In this context, political discourse, which records a variety of opinions and, frequently, their conflict, becomes an inseparable element of political culture. Conflict communication in political discourse may be perceived as the main research object of political linguistics, because the attack and winning of governmental positions occur in the context of the conflict of various political forces. That conflict is expressed through discourse. The conceptual metaphors the STATE IS A BUILDING, POLITICS IS A JOURNEY, LITHUANIAN POLITICS IS A SICK PERSON and POLITICS IS WAR prevail in Paksas's political discourse. These conceptual metaphors are generally typical of political discourse. The conceptual metaphors which provide a basis for text creation through linguistic metaphors allow the features of a victim to be attributed to Paksas. His opponents are granted the characteristics of attackers, people who are destroying the state, obstacles in the way of democracy who confuse ideological enemies with enemies of war.