Metaphors in Crisis (On COVID-19 in Romanian and US Articles)

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to identify similarities and differences in terms of the metaphors used to present the COVID-19 crisis in Romanian and US articles. The paper is structured in two parts – a theoretical and a practical one. The theoretical framework presents metaphors from the cognitive linguistic perspective as a way to understand and explain reality, metaphors playing a major part in human thinking. They are approached in the paper as a subjective way of presenting reality, being indicative of cultural differences. The practical part analyses thirteen Romanian and US articles taken from broadsheet newspapers, focusing on three areas – the presentation of the virus, people’s reaction to it, and the vaccine – in order to see the types of metaphors and the source domains used.

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“…As with the pandemic in general, militaristic metaphors were frequently used to explain what vaccines are and how they work in equipping our immune system with the necessary antibodies against the COVID-19 disease. Thus, vaccines are magic, silver bullets ( Silverman et al, 2020 ), a sniper ( Chefneux, 2021 ), vital arrows in our epidemiological quiver or a weapon in our arsenal to combat the virus ( Charteris-Black, 2021 ). However, many source domains other than war have also been used to convey information about the vaccine and vaccination, including fire [individual shot as a cup of water that can put out a stove fire (a single case of COVID) and mass vaccination as a fire hose, − Silverman et al, 2020 ], (vaccines as sprays of flame waylay fire on the move, while also shielding vegetation from the worst of the burn – Wu, 2021 ), travel (vaccination as a train journey , vaccine shots as train seats – Charteris-Black, 2021 ), safe delivery and receipt of the vaccine – Silverman et al, 2020 ), race (second sprint for vaccines, high-speed vaccine rollout – Charteris-Black, 2021 ), awarding the gold medal to countries for purchasing the vaccines – Chefneux, 2021 ), chess (vaccine supply and distribution as a chess game – Silverman et al, 2020 ), fairy tales (vaccine as Prince Charming – Chefneux, 2021 ).…”