The `metaphorical annihilation' of the Second Lebanon War (2006) from the Israeli political discourseGavriely-Nuri, Dalia
doi: 10.1177/0957926507083685pmid: N/A
Combining discourse analysis with gender theories and the discipline of political studies, this article focuses on two discursive phenomena: first, it demonstrates the flexibility and efficiency of exclusion mechanisms beyond the realm of minority relations to abstract concepts but especially political events; second, it demonstrates the power of metaphor for neutralizing the negative cargo of controversial political situations for the purpose of transforming them into consensual events. The case study explored is the Israeli political discourse during the 33 days of the Second Lebanon War (2006). By intensive use of `war-normalizing metaphors', the political discourse `annihilated' the war: these metaphorical constructions framed the war as a `normal' event, an integral part of Israeli daily life, despite the 3970 katyusha rockets that fell within the borders of Israel and the massive Israel Defense Forces bombing of southern Lebanon.
Co-membership in immigration gatekeeping interviews: construction, ratification and refutationJohnston, Alexandra Marie
doi: 10.1177/0957926507083686pmid: N/A
I analyze the construction of co-membership in a high-stakes gatekeeping encounter: US permanent residency (or `green card') interviews. Co-membership is sometimes attempted (intentionally or not) by visa applicants in this critical face-to-face encounter in order to create rapport and a favorable outcome. I show how co-membership is formed or avoided through the following steps: (i) an aspect of social identity is foregrounded through small talk and/or nonverbal means; (ii) the aspect is acknowledged as shared by the interactants and therefore a potential basis for co-membership; and (iii) the attempt at co-membership is ratified, not ratified, or actively refuted by one or all of the interactants. Excerpts are drawn from videotaped visa interviews and audiotaped playback sessions with one US immigration officer and 51 visa applicants. I examine cases in which the officer ratifies, does not ratify and refutes co-membership, and how this affects the interview tone and outcome for the applicant.
Dealing with the inevitable: strategies of self-presentation and meaning construction in the final statements of inmates on Texas death rowSchuck, Andreas R.T.; Ward, Janelle
doi: 10.1177/0957926507083687pmid: N/A
Last statements of death row inmates represent a genre of discourse characterized by an acute situation in which to express final reflections. This article describes how Texas death row inmates give meaning to their situation by examining their last statements. Between December 1982 and November 2006, 379 offenders were executed on the Texas death row. Through the inspection of 283 last statements made available on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice website, we identify strategies of self-presentation. In a first stage, we build a textual framework that uncovers a sequential structuring of what these individuals chose to express. Using this framework, the second stage analyzes the individual texts on a micro-level. Depending on the content of the statements, e.g. accepting or denying guilt, we identify key patterns of how inmates attach meaning to their situation and what they choose to express.
Social cognition and discourse processing goals in the analysis of `ex-gay' rhetoricStewart, Craig O.
doi: 10.1177/0957926507083689pmid: N/A
This article reports a critical discourse analysis of a series of newspaper advertisements advocating `ex-gay' ministries and `reparative therapy' for homosexuality — interventions designed to `treat' homosexuality through prayer or psychoanalysis. These ads, part of an effort to make `ex-gay' discourse more central to the public communication strategies of conservative, anti-gay political groups, feature both narrative and statistical arguments that gay men and lesbians can be converted to heterosexuality. This study draws on quantitative social psychological research on antigay attitudes and Slater's extension of the elaboration likelihood model of persuasion to establish the cognitive context for this discourse and to link the argumentative features of the advertisements to potential persuasive effects on different audiences. The analysis shows how different rhetorical strategies employed in these ads might differentially influence readers who are either `value protective' or `value affirmative' in their processing goals.
Daily political communication and argumentation in direct democracy: advocates and opponents of nuclear energyWindisch, Uli
doi: 10.1177/0957926507083690pmid: N/A
In a direct democracy, the public and media debate by referendums and popular votes presupposes a particular type of political communication and argumentation. The example chosen is the debate between the advocates and opponents of nuclear energy, a very conflictual debate based on daily argumentation which cannot be defined as simply irrational. There are specific logics involved. The struggle for social and political representation and the `game of placement—displacement' are fundamental. Specific discourse strategies permit the definition of a larger conception of argumentation and a multidimensional approach to communication and discourse, as well as shade typologies of effective discourses.
Biotech as `biothreat'?: metaphorical constructions in discourseHolmgreen, Lise-Lotte
doi: 10.1177/0957926507083691pmid: N/A
In Denmark, as in many other European countries, biotechnology continues to be a much debated and controversial issue. The article takes its starting point in this debate, investigating how metaphorical constructions in media discourse reproduce and promote the viewpoints of particular societal groups. In this, the article tries to make up for the limited focus upon the role played by metaphor and discourse in shaping public attitudes to biotechnology. The article has two parts: a theoretical part discussing the combination of conceptual metaphor studies and critical discourse analysis to provide a more comprehensive frame for explaining the function of metaphor in use; and an empirical part analysing biotech-metaphors in the Danish print press. Although not conclusive, the analysis points to metaphorical constructions in the press being both grounded in basic image schematic structures and highly influenced by attitudes expressed by societal groups, based on the notions of risk, fear and danger.