Chapter 12. “We are in the same storm, not in the same boat”
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Anaïs Augé
Abstract
The chapter proposes to investigate the implications of the proverbial phrase to be in the same boat in international debates about climate change. The study exposes the endorsed or disputed uses of the proverb. I analyse its exploitation by different discourse producers who convey different opinions. The data are extracted from various texts and speeches produced (or translated) in English. This research illustrates how the proverb can be exploited to fit different cultural traditions and different environmental concerns. The aim of the chapter is to identify the different arguments promoted by the use of the proverb. It also highlights the aspects of the proverb that may not correspond to the reality of climate change. This gives rise to argumentative exploitations using related metaphorical expressions. With reliance on cognitive metaphor theories (Lakoff 1993, 2004, 2010), and on metaphor scenarios in particular (Musolff 2004, 2016, 2019a), the occurrences discussed below demonstrate how the metaphorical image of the earth is a container has been challenged through the depiction of the earth is a boat. Indeed, the source concept boat comprises particular characteristics that can cause division among discourse producers to the extent that climate change debates may revolve around the use and misuse of the proverb. The chapter demonstrates that the proverbial phrase to be in the same boat involves precarious implications in environmental discourse.
Abstract
The chapter proposes to investigate the implications of the proverbial phrase to be in the same boat in international debates about climate change. The study exposes the endorsed or disputed uses of the proverb. I analyse its exploitation by different discourse producers who convey different opinions. The data are extracted from various texts and speeches produced (or translated) in English. This research illustrates how the proverb can be exploited to fit different cultural traditions and different environmental concerns. The aim of the chapter is to identify the different arguments promoted by the use of the proverb. It also highlights the aspects of the proverb that may not correspond to the reality of climate change. This gives rise to argumentative exploitations using related metaphorical expressions. With reliance on cognitive metaphor theories (Lakoff 1993, 2004, 2010), and on metaphor scenarios in particular (Musolff 2004, 2016, 2019a), the occurrences discussed below demonstrate how the metaphorical image of the earth is a container has been challenged through the depiction of the earth is a boat. Indeed, the source concept boat comprises particular characteristics that can cause division among discourse producers to the extent that climate change debates may revolve around the use and misuse of the proverb. The chapter demonstrates that the proverbial phrase to be in the same boat involves precarious implications in environmental discourse.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Dedication v
- Table of contents vii
- Editor and contributors ix
- Acknowledgements xiii
- List of tables and figures xv
- Introduction 1
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Part I. Theoretical discussions of proverbs in cognition and culture
- Chapter 1. Proverbs in Extended Conceptual Metaphor Theory 26
- Chapter 2. Metonymic layers in proverbs 40
- Chapter 3. Contradiction in proverbs 65
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Part II. A cognitive-cross-cultural linguistic approach on proverbs
- Chapter 4. Metaphors of love before and after marriage in proverbs and anti-proverbs 88
- Chapter 5. Proverbs of Latin and French origin in the history of English 112
- Chapter 6. Cognitive Linguistics and expressing/interpreting proverbs in a second language 132
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Part III. Cognitive categories in the proverbs of individual languages and cultures
- Chapter 7. Emotion in Greek proverbs 174
- Chapter 8. Living is movement 202
- Chapter 9. The role of Persian proverbs in framing Iran’s nuclear program 230
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Part IV. Proverbs and related phenomena in a cultural-cognitive linguistic framework
- Chapter 10. The only good snowclone is a dead snowclone 260
- Chapter 11. A cultural linguistic study of embodied Hungarian proverbs representing facial hair 298
- Chapter 12. “We are in the same storm, not in the same boat” 328
- Index 349
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Dedication v
- Table of contents vii
- Editor and contributors ix
- Acknowledgements xiii
- List of tables and figures xv
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Theoretical discussions of proverbs in cognition and culture
- Chapter 1. Proverbs in Extended Conceptual Metaphor Theory 26
- Chapter 2. Metonymic layers in proverbs 40
- Chapter 3. Contradiction in proverbs 65
-
Part II. A cognitive-cross-cultural linguistic approach on proverbs
- Chapter 4. Metaphors of love before and after marriage in proverbs and anti-proverbs 88
- Chapter 5. Proverbs of Latin and French origin in the history of English 112
- Chapter 6. Cognitive Linguistics and expressing/interpreting proverbs in a second language 132
-
Part III. Cognitive categories in the proverbs of individual languages and cultures
- Chapter 7. Emotion in Greek proverbs 174
- Chapter 8. Living is movement 202
- Chapter 9. The role of Persian proverbs in framing Iran’s nuclear program 230
-
Part IV. Proverbs and related phenomena in a cultural-cognitive linguistic framework
- Chapter 10. The only good snowclone is a dead snowclone 260
- Chapter 11. A cultural linguistic study of embodied Hungarian proverbs representing facial hair 298
- Chapter 12. “We are in the same storm, not in the same boat” 328
- Index 349
