Beyond Predator and Prey: Figuring Corruption through Animal Metaphoric Scenarios in the Jordanian Context

Mohammad Abedltif Albtoush,Sakina Suffian Sahuri

doi:10.5539/ells.v7n2p110

Abstract

Combining a cognitive approach based on Lakoff’s Conceptual Metaphor Theory and a pragmatic approach based on Critical Metaphor Analysis, this study investigates the use of ANIMAL metaphoric scenarios to figure corruption as a relationship between predators and prey and the cultural implications in the Jordanian context. It also seeks to identify the diverse functions performed by the use of ANIMAL metaphors. Data for the study consist of 10 excerpts taken from a satire-genre discourse “sawalief.com”. My argument is that all animal metaphors in the corpus promote the contrast between the ACTIVITY of corrupters and the PASSIVITY of the citizenry and that the goal of this rhetoric is to move the PASSIVE citizenry into ACTION by shaming them into fighting corruption. This is clearly illustrated through the use of two types of ANIMAL metaphoric scenarios: ACTIVE ANIMALS representing corrupters and politicians, and PASSIVE ANIMALS representing the citizens. In addition, the use of these metaphors performs diverse functions: ideological, cognitive, and rhetorical.

Highlights

Reflecting a broader global trend, the problem of corruption has become a common topic of conversation in the Jordanian society since 2010 as reflected in the sociopolitical writings of online Jordanian news sites like Sawalief.com
Combining a cognitive approach based on Lakoff’s Conceptual Metaphor Theory and a pragmatic approach based on Critical Metaphor Analysis, this study investigates the use of ANIMAL metaphoric scenarios to figure corruption as a relationship between predators and prey and the cultural implications in the Jordanian context
The focus of this research paper is on the pervasive use of different ANIMAL metaphors framing the two relevant aspects of corruption: the corrupters and politicians who are the chief cause behind this problem as well as the citizens who are the victims

Summary

Introduction

Reflecting a broader global trend, the problem of corruption has become a common topic of conversation in the Jordanian society since 2010 as reflected in the sociopolitical writings of online Jordanian news sites like Sawalief.com. The data of this research is based on the satirical sociopolitical writings of the most popular Jordanian columnist Ahmad Hasan Al Zu’bi (“sawalif,”) in his well-known website Sawalief.com. In his column, he utilizes various metaphorical expressions drawing from the ANIMAL semantic field in the portrayal of the corrupters and politicians on the one hand and the citizens on the other hand. [i]t is powerful and influential, and colors and infuses the character, ideals and institutions of the individual, the family and the community” (Harris) This implies that news discourse is viewed as a rich source of linguistic data, which in turn reinforces the relationship between the columnist and the society.

Literature Review

Theoretical Framework

Results and Analysis

Conclusion and Recommendations