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Chapter 7. The meaning of state created through symbols and metaphors

German Heimat and Russian Motherland
  • Agne Cepinskyte
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Metaphor, Nation and Discourse
This chapter is in the book Metaphor, Nation and Discourse

Abstract

This chapter compares the role of symbols and metaphors in constructing the meaning of the state in its relation to the nation. Building on Paul Ricœur’s theory, it considers symbols and metaphors as two different discursive devices and applies this theoretical approach to the analysis of pre-Nazi German (1871–1933) and late imperial Russian (1860s–1917) political discourses as reflected in political speeches, policy documents, government records, correspondence, and other texts produced by political leaders and thinkers. The findings are that the symbol of the German Heimat and the metaphor of the Russian Motherland contributed significantly to the discursive development of two distinct types of state-to-nation relations: in Germany, the nation legitimized the state, while in Russia the state dominated the nation.

Abstract

This chapter compares the role of symbols and metaphors in constructing the meaning of the state in its relation to the nation. Building on Paul Ricœur’s theory, it considers symbols and metaphors as two different discursive devices and applies this theoretical approach to the analysis of pre-Nazi German (1871–1933) and late imperial Russian (1860s–1917) political discourses as reflected in political speeches, policy documents, government records, correspondence, and other texts produced by political leaders and thinkers. The findings are that the symbol of the German Heimat and the metaphor of the Russian Motherland contributed significantly to the discursive development of two distinct types of state-to-nation relations: in Germany, the nation legitimized the state, while in Russia the state dominated the nation.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgments vii
  4. Metaphors in the discursive construction of nations 1
  5. Part I. Discourses and voices of the powerful elites
  6. Chapter 1. The desire for shelter 35
  7. Chapter 2. Barbed wire around Serbia 59
  8. Chapter 3. Godly Poland in godless Europe 75
  9. Chapter 4. “Let’s work on our Serbian!” 101
  10. Chapter 5. Metaphors for language contact and change 127
  11. Chapter 6. Metaphors of plant cultivation and flowing liquid in German colonialist discourse (1871–1914) 155
  12. Chapter 7. The meaning of state created through symbols and metaphors 177
  13. Chapter 8. “The state of our Union is strong.” Metaphors of the nation in State of the Union addresses 201
  14. Part II. Semi-official and mixed discourses
  15. Chapter 9. The role of metonymy and metaphor in the conceptualization of the nation 227
  16. Chapter 10. Metaphorical and non-metaphorical dimensions of the term nacija in Croatian online discourse 259
  17. Chapter 11. How to do things with metaphors 287
  18. Chapter 12. Guidelines on how to construct a nation 321
  19. Afterword 347
  20. Notes on contributors 349
  21. Index 353
https://doi.org/10.1075/dapsac.82.08cep

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgments vii
  4. Metaphors in the discursive construction of nations 1
  5. Part I. Discourses and voices of the powerful elites
  6. Chapter 1. The desire for shelter 35
  7. Chapter 2. Barbed wire around Serbia 59
  8. Chapter 3. Godly Poland in godless Europe 75
  9. Chapter 4. “Let’s work on our Serbian!” 101
  10. Chapter 5. Metaphors for language contact and change 127
  11. Chapter 6. Metaphors of plant cultivation and flowing liquid in German colonialist discourse (1871–1914) 155
  12. Chapter 7. The meaning of state created through symbols and metaphors 177
  13. Chapter 8. “The state of our Union is strong.” Metaphors of the nation in State of the Union addresses 201
  14. Part II. Semi-official and mixed discourses
  15. Chapter 9. The role of metonymy and metaphor in the conceptualization of the nation 227
  16. Chapter 10. Metaphorical and non-metaphorical dimensions of the term nacija in Croatian online discourse 259
  17. Chapter 11. How to do things with metaphors 287
  18. Chapter 12. Guidelines on how to construct a nation 321
  19. Afterword 347
  20. Notes on contributors 349
  21. Index 353
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