Responding to the risk of terrorism: the contribution of metaphor

Lynne Cameron

doi:10.1590/s0102-44502010000300010

Abstract

This discourse-based study investigated semantic and affective aspects of metaphors used by people talking about background risk of terrorism. 96 members of the UK public participated in 12 focus group discussions, organized by gender, religion (Muslim / non-Muslim), and socio-economic status. 12,362 metaphors were identified in transcribed talk, coded for vehicle domain and discourse topic, and subjected to qualitative and some quantitative analyses. In contrast to negative, dominant metaphors found in studies of media and political discourse, 'ordinary' people use an intersecting range of systematic metaphors, including "GAMES OF CHANCE", "NATURAL WORLD" and "THEATER". Affect works across linguistic metaphors with various source domains, and in connection with non-metaphorical language such as reflection on action and explicit expression of empathy. Gender, religion and social class intersect in metaphor preferences.

Highlights

This paper relates to a plenary given at the conference “Metaphor in Language and Thought III”, Fortaleza, Brazil, 21-24 October 2008.The paper reports findings from one stage of a larger project “Perception and Communication of the Risk of Terrorism” (PCTR), carried out in the UK
The project was conceived in response to the problem of how to communicate effectively about the risk of terrorism, and had two main aims: firstly, to investigate how people conceptualize the background risk of terrorism; secondly, to explore the potential that knowledge of these conceptualizations might have for making official communications about the threat more effective and more sensitive to the diverse nature of the UK population
There is a more urgent need on the part of the authorities to communicate with the public about the practicalities of the risk - to give a realistic assessment of the threat, to inform people of action that is being taken, and to ask for public co-operation in dealing with terrorism

Summary

Introduction

The paper reports findings from one stage of a larger project “Perception and Communication of the Risk of Terrorism” (PCTR), carried out in the UK. The project was conceived in response to the problem of how to communicate effectively about the risk of terrorism, and had two main aims: firstly, to investigate how people conceptualize the background risk of terrorism; secondly, to explore the potential that knowledge of these conceptualizations might have for making official communications about the threat more effective and more sensitive to the diverse nature of the UK population. In the United Kingdom, the process is further complicated by the demographic diversity of the population and by the fact that the London bombings in July 2005 were carried out by young men from minority ethnic and Muslim communities who had been born in the UK

Methods

Results

Conclusion