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Part of
Figurative Thought and Language in Action
Edited by Mario Brdar and Rita Brdar-Szabó
[Figurative Thought and Language 16] 2022
► pp. 215–236

Metonymies of migration

Media discourse about and by migrants

| University of Nebraska-Lincoln
| University of Arizona

This chapter uses critical discourse studies (CDS) combined with metonymy/metaphor analysis to explore the difference between metonymies used to talk about migration/migrants in media discourse and those used by migrants themselves. Findings reveal differences between the way metonymies (and metaphors motivated by them) are used by migrants as opposed to a variety of media sources (e.g. online newspapers, television reports) and what this reveals about migration. Furthermore, while migrants are impacted in various ways by discourse about them, they are still able to think and talk about themselves in positive, holistic, and varied ways. The authors conclude that critical metonymy/metaphor analysis allows for alternative ways of envisioning migration and globally mobile people.

Keywords: metonymy, metaphor, migration, migrants, media discourse
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical framework
    • 2.1Migrants and metonymy
    • 2.2Critical discourse studies + metonymy/metaphor analysis
    • 2.3Figurative language and migration discourse
  • 3.Method
  • 4.Findings
    • 4.1Journeys, roads, and setbacks
    • 4.2Floods, oceans, and ponds
    • 4.3Invasions and machine guns
    • 4.4Predators and prey
    • 4.5Do migrants know what they are called?
    • 4.6Resisting the categories
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 28 July 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/ftl.16.09cat
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