The Use of Metaphors and Similes in Political Discourse in Ghana

Emmanuel Amo Ofori; Charlotte Ogbedee Laryea; Benjamin Kubi; Vera Yayrah Fiawornu

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16

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The Use of Metaphors and Similes in Political Discourse in Ghana

Emmanuel Amo Ofori, Charlotte Ogbedee Laryea, Benjamin Kubi, Vera Yayrah Fiawornu

Published in International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 9, Issue 4)

Received: 15 June 2021 Accepted: 24 June 2021 Published: 8 July 2021

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Abstract

In this study, we examine how ordinary citizens use metaphors and similes in their contributions to political discussions in Ghana. We argue that the use of these figurative language devices is a subtle means by which citizens expose politicians and question their competence in handling national issues. They also serve as means of minimizing direct vilification of politicians in the political space of Ghana. In fact, when metaphors and similes are employed within a particular discourse, one has to understand the context in which they have been used as well as the specific communicative function they convey in order to arrive at the desired interpretation. Using Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) Conceptual Metaphor Theory, data collected from purposively selected and transcribed radio recordings as well as online commentaries, were critically analysed. The analysis revealed that ordinary citizens use metaphors and similes to surreptitiously expose the way and manner in which politicians run the country. Also, metaphors and similes serve as communication tools to mitigate the effect of otherwise direct attacks on politicians in Ghana. This study has implication for the relationship between political communication and society.

Published in	International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 9, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16
Page(s)	180-187
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Metaphor, Simile, Conceptual Metaphor Theory, Political Discourse, Ghana

References

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APA Style

Emmanuel Amo Ofori, Charlotte Ogbedee Laryea, Benjamin Kubi, Vera Yayrah Fiawornu. (2021). The Use of Metaphors and Similes in Political Discourse in Ghana. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 9(4), 180-187. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16

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ACS Style

Emmanuel Amo Ofori; Charlotte Ogbedee Laryea; Benjamin Kubi; Vera Yayrah Fiawornu. The Use of Metaphors and Similes in Political Discourse in Ghana. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2021, 9(4), 180-187. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16

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AMA Style

Emmanuel Amo Ofori, Charlotte Ogbedee Laryea, Benjamin Kubi, Vera Yayrah Fiawornu. The Use of Metaphors and Similes in Political Discourse in Ghana. Int J Lang Linguist. 2021;9(4):180-187. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16

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@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16,
  author = {Emmanuel Amo Ofori and Charlotte Ogbedee Laryea and Benjamin Kubi and Vera Yayrah Fiawornu},
  title = {The Use of Metaphors and Similes in Political Discourse in Ghana},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {9},
  number = {4},
  pages = {180-187},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20210904.16},
  abstract = {In this study, we examine how ordinary citizens use metaphors and similes in their contributions to political discussions in Ghana. We argue that the use of these figurative language devices is a subtle means by which citizens expose politicians and question their competence in handling national issues. They also serve as means of minimizing direct vilification of politicians in the political space of Ghana. In fact, when metaphors and similes are employed within a particular discourse, one has to understand the context in which they have been used as well as the specific communicative function they convey in order to arrive at the desired interpretation. Using Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) Conceptual Metaphor Theory, data collected from purposively selected and transcribed radio recordings as well as online commentaries, were critically analysed. The analysis revealed that ordinary citizens use metaphors and similes to surreptitiously expose the way and manner in which politicians run the country. Also, metaphors and similes serve as communication tools to mitigate the effect of otherwise direct attacks on politicians in Ghana. This study has implication for the relationship between political communication and society.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Use of Metaphors and Similes in Political Discourse in Ghana
AU  - Emmanuel Amo Ofori
AU  - Charlotte Ogbedee Laryea
AU  - Benjamin Kubi
AU  - Vera Yayrah Fiawornu
Y1  - 2021/07/08
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
SP  - 180
EP  - 187
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-0221
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16
AB  - In this study, we examine how ordinary citizens use metaphors and similes in their contributions to political discussions in Ghana. We argue that the use of these figurative language devices is a subtle means by which citizens expose politicians and question their competence in handling national issues. They also serve as means of minimizing direct vilification of politicians in the political space of Ghana. In fact, when metaphors and similes are employed within a particular discourse, one has to understand the context in which they have been used as well as the specific communicative function they convey in order to arrive at the desired interpretation. Using Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) Conceptual Metaphor Theory, data collected from purposively selected and transcribed radio recordings as well as online commentaries, were critically analysed. The analysis revealed that ordinary citizens use metaphors and similes to surreptitiously expose the way and manner in which politicians run the country. Also, metaphors and similes serve as communication tools to mitigate the effect of otherwise direct attacks on politicians in Ghana. This study has implication for the relationship between political communication and society.
VL  - 9
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Emmanuel Amo Ofori

Department of Ghanaian Languages and Linguistics, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
Charlotte Ogbedee Laryea

Department of Ghanaian Languages and Linguistics, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
Benjamin Kubi

Department of Ghanaian Languages and Linguistics, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
Vera Yayrah Fiawornu

Department of Ghanaian Languages and Linguistics, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

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APA Style

Emmanuel Amo Ofori, Charlotte Ogbedee Laryea, Benjamin Kubi, Vera Yayrah Fiawornu. (2021). The Use of Metaphors and Similes in Political Discourse in Ghana. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 9(4), 180-187. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16

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ACS Style

Emmanuel Amo Ofori; Charlotte Ogbedee Laryea; Benjamin Kubi; Vera Yayrah Fiawornu. The Use of Metaphors and Similes in Political Discourse in Ghana. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2021, 9(4), 180-187. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16

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AMA Style

Emmanuel Amo Ofori, Charlotte Ogbedee Laryea, Benjamin Kubi, Vera Yayrah Fiawornu. The Use of Metaphors and Similes in Political Discourse in Ghana. Int J Lang Linguist. 2021;9(4):180-187. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16

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@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16,
  author = {Emmanuel Amo Ofori and Charlotte Ogbedee Laryea and Benjamin Kubi and Vera Yayrah Fiawornu},
  title = {The Use of Metaphors and Similes in Political Discourse in Ghana},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {9},
  number = {4},
  pages = {180-187},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20210904.16},
  abstract = {In this study, we examine how ordinary citizens use metaphors and similes in their contributions to political discussions in Ghana. We argue that the use of these figurative language devices is a subtle means by which citizens expose politicians and question their competence in handling national issues. They also serve as means of minimizing direct vilification of politicians in the political space of Ghana. In fact, when metaphors and similes are employed within a particular discourse, one has to understand the context in which they have been used as well as the specific communicative function they convey in order to arrive at the desired interpretation. Using Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) Conceptual Metaphor Theory, data collected from purposively selected and transcribed radio recordings as well as online commentaries, were critically analysed. The analysis revealed that ordinary citizens use metaphors and similes to surreptitiously expose the way and manner in which politicians run the country. Also, metaphors and similes serve as communication tools to mitigate the effect of otherwise direct attacks on politicians in Ghana. This study has implication for the relationship between political communication and society.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Use of Metaphors and Similes in Political Discourse in Ghana
AU  - Emmanuel Amo Ofori
AU  - Charlotte Ogbedee Laryea
AU  - Benjamin Kubi
AU  - Vera Yayrah Fiawornu
Y1  - 2021/07/08
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
SP  - 180
EP  - 187
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-0221
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20210904.16
AB  - In this study, we examine how ordinary citizens use metaphors and similes in their contributions to political discussions in Ghana. We argue that the use of these figurative language devices is a subtle means by which citizens expose politicians and question their competence in handling national issues. They also serve as means of minimizing direct vilification of politicians in the political space of Ghana. In fact, when metaphors and similes are employed within a particular discourse, one has to understand the context in which they have been used as well as the specific communicative function they convey in order to arrive at the desired interpretation. Using Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) Conceptual Metaphor Theory, data collected from purposively selected and transcribed radio recordings as well as online commentaries, were critically analysed. The analysis revealed that ordinary citizens use metaphors and similes to surreptitiously expose the way and manner in which politicians run the country. Also, metaphors and similes serve as communication tools to mitigate the effect of otherwise direct attacks on politicians in Ghana. This study has implication for the relationship between political communication and society.
VL  - 9
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download