USE OF CONCEPTUAL, LINGUISTIC, RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL METAPHORS IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE

Abstract

This study is conducted having in view the use of metaphors in the political speeches of Pakistani politicians. It aims at understanding the use of metaphors in Pakistani context keeping in view the religious, linguistic, social and conceptual background of the Pakistanis. For this purpose, the speeches of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (as a Pakistani parliamentary leader) and Imran Khan (as a prime minister of Pakistan) have been selected. Metaphors used in their speeches have been analysed with reference to linguistic, contextual, social and contemporary background using metaphor identification procedure (MIP). It has been found that the metaphors used by the political leaders in Pakistan have religious, linguistic, social and conceptual grounding and they use these metaphors not only to influence on the minds of the people but also to construct the opinion in their favour. This study will help the common people to understand the manipulation of metaphors to construct public opinion and will help the researchers to understand the patterns of the metaphor used by Pakistani leaders.