Metaphor scenarios in public discourse

This article investigates structural aspects of source domains in metaphorical mappings with regard to their manifestation in public discourse data. Specifically, it analyses the organization of source concepts into mininarratives or "scenarios" that dominate the discourse manifestations of source domains. The material consists of examples from a bilingual corpus of British and German public debates about the "European Union." The data show that while the two national samples share some basic mappings between the source and target domains, they each are characterised further by specific scenarios that provide focal points for conceptualizing the target topic. The scenarios can also be shown to carry evaluative and attitudinal biases that are related to particular political dispositions and preferences of the respective national discourse communities. In conclusion, it will be argued that the analysis of scenarios is a necessary complement to the study of source domains and of domain-mappings in metaphorical language use. (1) Is the "Franco-German couple" really the "heart of the European Union", as [Chirac] said during the [election] campaign, or are Britain's Conservatives right to imagine they have found afellow-sceptic toflirt with? (The Guardian, 18 May 1995; italics here and in following examples by AM) (2) [...] every time, over the past decade, that a new president or prime minister has taken over in France, he briefly [...]flirts with the Euro-sceptical British, only to fall back in relief on the old liaison with Germany. (The Economist, 5 December 1998) (3) Scit [...] ihrem EU-Treff in Stockholm, scheint die vertrackte Partnerschaft zwischen Chirac, Jospin und Schroder nun doch zu retten. [...] Vorerst schwort der Kanzler nur Treue: Keine Seitenspriinge mehr mit Tony! (Die Zeit, 29 March 2001) [Since the EU meeting in Stockholm the troublesome partnership, Chirac-JospinSchr6der, looks as if it might be saved after all. For the moment, the Chancellor only promises maritalfidelity: no more dalliance with Tony.] (4) An adviser to Chirac says the Franco-German marriage remains fundamental to French European policy; many Germans agree. So long as they stick to the marriage metaphor this makes Tony Blair either lover or mistress. That's a good reason for abandoning the metaphor, not the threesome. (The Guardian, 19 February 2004)