ANALYSIS OF METAPHORS IN AMERICAN POLITICAL DISCOURSE

Abstract

The paper explains the importance of metaphors in political discourse, then studies comparative methods constructing metaphors in English, i.e. absolute, simple, complex, compound, concrete and extended. Each of them has a distinct impact that helps to depict the characteristics of the American politicians’ argumentation, i.e. directing listeners to some subject by telling stories using comparative images. For illustration of interpreting the meaning of metaphors, the paper unpacks some data collected from popular American political speeches, aiming at providing English majors with a theoretical base to understand and analyze metaphorical expressions fully and accurately.