The Therapeutic Function of Metaphor: the Case of Emotions in the Croatian Public Discourse
The Therapeutic Function of Metaphor: the Case of Emotions in the Croatian Public Discourse

Summary/Abstract: In this paper we (re-)examine the role of deliberate metaphors in the public discourse. Based onan analysis of metaphorical comments to the articles reporting on a dispute between the CroatianPrime Minister and Minister of Finance, we argue that in addition to a number of established discursive functions, metaphor may perform a therapeutic function aiding commenters in workingthrough their emotions. Our analyses of the course that comments take shows that they are notstructured according to a usual turn-taking logic, but rather on the basis of the coherence of theemotions shared by the commenters. Moreover, the tripartite internal structure of the comments(identifying the critical event, running the blend, possibly offering a solution to the critical event)is aimed at symbolically delegitimizing politicians, putting the author in charge of the experience,thus enabling him/her to work through it. Theoretically, such a view suggests that on the discourselevel it is not necessarily metaphor that is used as the structuring device, but that emotion canstructure metaphor.

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