‘Brave and self-sacrificing Covid warriors:’ the metaphors used to describe healthcare workers in Thailand

Abstract

ABSTRACT During 2020–2021, the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand was severe and difficult to control, and healthcare workers were important in managing the pandemic. This article focuses on the metaphors used in the news to describe healthcare workers during this period. The data were collected from news reports written and published in Thai held on the news database of Thailand (iQNewsClip). Conceptual metaphors were analysed based on Lakoff and Johnson and Kövecses, and using the concept of critical metaphor analysis from Charteris-Black. We found that two conceptual metaphors were used to describe healthcare workers: [HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE WARRIORS] and [HEALTHCARE WORKERS’ OBLIGATIONS ARE HEAVY OBJECTS]. In addition, the research findings revealed that Thai elites or authorities used such metaphors to create meanings for healthcare workers to achieve certain objectives of the government in handling the COVID-19 pandemic and managing social behaviour. It may also have been a way to coerce healthcare workers to perform their duties.