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Chapter 9. The role of metonymy and metaphor in the conceptualization of the nation

An emergent ontological analysis of syntactic-semantic constructions
  • Benedikt Perak
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Metaphor, Nation and Discourse
This chapter is in the book Metaphor, Nation and Discourse

Abstract

This corpus-based study presents an emergent ontological analysis of syntactic-semantic constructions of the concept nation. Using large Croatian corpora, I analysed the ontological congruence of the collocations of the lexeme nacija ‘nation’ in five types of syntactic-semantic constructions. This approach enabled a formal hierarchical description of the metaphorical conceptualization of the nation and the cognitive mechanism of eliciting reification, personification and social appraisal of the nation. Metaphorical mappings are seen as a powerful instrument for conceptualizing the institutional status of the nation, reinforcing the interaction between members, and the creation of collective identity that influences a person’s self-appraisal, and vice versa.

Abstract

This corpus-based study presents an emergent ontological analysis of syntactic-semantic constructions of the concept nation. Using large Croatian corpora, I analysed the ontological congruence of the collocations of the lexeme nacija ‘nation’ in five types of syntactic-semantic constructions. This approach enabled a formal hierarchical description of the metaphorical conceptualization of the nation and the cognitive mechanism of eliciting reification, personification and social appraisal of the nation. Metaphorical mappings are seen as a powerful instrument for conceptualizing the institutional status of the nation, reinforcing the interaction between members, and the creation of collective identity that influences a person’s self-appraisal, and vice versa.

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.82.10per

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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