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Article published In:
Review of Cognitive Linguistics
Vol. 20:2 (2022) ► pp.504–529

Conceptual metaphor in trading card games

The case of Yu-Gi-Oh!

ORCID logo | University of Novi Sad

The current study aims to demonstrate that trading card games (TCGs), also called collectible card games (CCGs), represent a potentially fruitful area of research in metaphor studies. A popular trading card game called Yu-Gi-Oh! is examined, and the argument is made that players utilize the cognitive mechanisms of conceptual metaphor to conceptualize its core game mechanics. Based on the results of a survey (n = 186) it was concluded that players conceptualize such game mechanics in line with the logics inherent in the Location Event Structure Metaphor, in conjunction with the metaphors birth is arrival, life is being present here, and death is departure. This implies that it is precisely the embodied cognitive mechanisms of conceptual metaphor which allow for a shared, intersubjective understanding between players to exist regarding the meanings of various gameplay scenarios in Yu-Gi-Oh!, and possibly in many other trading card games as well.

Keywords: conceptual metaphor, event structure metaphor, image schema, trading card game, Yu-Gi-Oh!
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Conceptual metaphor theory
    • 2.1Location event structure metaphor
  • 3. Yu-Gi-Oh! game mechanics and the location ESM
  • 4.Data and methodology
  • 5.Analysis
    • 5.1States are locations in Yu-Gi-Oh!
    • 5.2Changes are movements, causes are forces, and causation is forced movement in Yu-Gi-Oh!
    • 5.3Is there a difference with regard to Spell and Trap Cards?
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgments
  • References
Published online: 8 December 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/rcl.00120.pap
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