Ühe kriisi kaks nägu. Koroonapandeemiaga toimetuleku metafoorne mõtestamine kriisijuhtide pilgu läbi
Two Sides of the Same Crisis: Metaphorical Perspectives of Healthcare Leaders on Coping With the COVID-19 Crisis

Summary/Abstract: While many studies have examined metaphors in COVID-19 discourse, few have focused on how healthcare leaders use metaphors to reflect on the crisis from a post-pandemic perspective. This study analyzes the conceptual metaphors used in reflective discourse by Estonian healthcare leaders to better understand the challenges of medical crisis management and preparedness. The material is drawn from the 2023 Estonian Health Board report COVID-19 Pandemic Descriptive Analysis and Lessons Learned, which includes a medical overview by virologist Irja Lutsar and interviews with 20 crisis-management experts conducted by Kantar Emor. Grounded in Cognitive Metaphor Theory (CMT), the study compares metaphor use in scientific and everyday discourse, treating them as two complementary perspectives on the same crisis. It explores how these metaphors offer insights into how healthcare leaders conceptualized and made sense of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis shows that the medical overview maintains a neutral, statistics-oriented tone and relies on conventional metaphors, primarily framing the pandemic as a natural force, with only occasional and superficial use of war metaphors. By contrast, the interviews reveal more personal and vivid imagery, often drawing on war and school metaphors. Metaphors of struggle and burden highlight the increased workload and a sense of heroism among healthcare workers, while the virus itself is sometimes personified. By considering these complementary perspectives together, the study advances understanding of healthcare leadership discourse and the role of metaphor in shaping post-pandemic policy reflection and communication.

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