COVID-19 Conceptual Metaphors in Jordanian Political Discourse: Evidence from a Newspaper-based Corpus

Conceptual Metaphors are part of human cognition and essential to knowledge experience. The study reported here examines the COVID-19 conceptual metaphors underlying metaphoric language employed by Jordanian government officials during two periods in 2020, namely from February May September December. To this end, a corpus official statements (n=213) Al-Rai ‘The Opinion’, an Arabic daily mainstream newspaper, was collected analyzed using Cognitive Metaphor Theory proposed Lakoff Johnson (1980, 2003). Identified categorized under following eight source domains: warfare, container, ocean, journey, natural phenomenon, examination, animal, sport. A comparison frequency these each period is established. analysis reveals that warfare container have highest both followed ocean journey. percentage other four domains less than five percent. subsumed frequent domains, namely, journey further examined discussed Critical Analysis (Charteris-Black 2004). results show first period, priority given focus on convincing people restrictive measures which suspended freedom. Therefore, has dominated scene. However, as crisis progressed, took over. This may assist agencies use right impact public opinion win masses their stands.