Russian Journal of LinguisticsRussian Journal of LinguisticsRussian Journal of Linguistics2687-00882686-8024Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)3519010.22363/2687-0088-31509KQNMHUArticlesСтатьиArticlesResearch ArticleTaking back control: The role of image schemas in the Brexit discourseВозвращение контроля: роль схемы-образов в дискурсе о Брекситеhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3720-5240Martín de la RosaVictoriaМартин де ла РосаВиктория

Associate Professor in the Department of English Studies: Linguistics and Literature at the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain). Her main field of research lies in exploring the use of critical metaphor in different areas, particularly North American educational discourse. Her recent publications include articles in national and international peer reviewed journals such as Linguistics and Education, Journal of Pragmatics, Intercultural Pragmatics, Journal of Gender Studies among others.

доцент кафедры английского языка и литературы Мадридского университета Комплутенсе (Испания). Основная сфера ее научных интересов связана с изучением критической метафоры в различных контекстах, в особенности в американском образовательном дискурсе. Она автор ряда публикаций в испанских и международных рецензируемых журналах, в частности Linguistics and Education, Journal of Pragmatics, Intercultural Pragmatics, Journal of Gender Studies и др.

mvmartin@ucm.esComplutense UniversityМадридский университет Комплутенсе30062023272VOL 27, NO2 (2023)ТОМ 27, №2 (2023)27629604072023Copyright ©; 2023, Martín de la Rosa V.Copyright ©; 2023, Мартин де ла Роса В.Copyright ©; 2023, Martín de la Rosa V.2023Martín de la Rosa V.Мартин де ла Роса В.Martín de la Rosa V.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0https://journals.rudn.ru/linguistics/article/view/35190

Can image schemas sustain the discourse on Brexit while building up emotional and evaluative dimensions in the process? This paper analyzes the embodied meaning used in the Brexit discourse as seen through the lens of the pro-leave newspaper (The Telegraph). By way of a discourse-based approach, the main goal of this study is to show the persuasive role that two recurrent image schemas (CONTAINMENT AND FORCE) play in the characterization of the Brexit discourse, which were used to evoke strong feelings of fear and anger to mobilize readers into taking a defensive position against the EU at the time of the referendum. Regarding the material to be analyzed, a corpus of 43,576 words was compiled, distributed in 34 opinion articles and 13 leading articles, from May 22 to June 22, 2016. The data were analyzed from the perspective of Conceptual Metaphor Theory, where the embodiment of the mind plays a key role. The analysis reveals that the use of the metaphor scenario ‘take back control’, bringing together the use of image schemas and conceptual metaphor, galvanizes the readership’s support against the EU through the use of this realistic formula in a less cognitively demanding manner. The study of image schemas seems to provide an important avenue for understanding the representation of complex political issues such as that of Brexit, underpinned by the use of highly compressed and simple information with a deliberate emotional load.

Могут ли схемы-образов служить опорой дискурса о Брексите, при этом придавая ему эмоциональную окраску и оценочность? В статье анализируется концептуализация Брексита в газете The Telegraph , поддержавшей выход Великобритании из ЕС. Цель данной статьи, основанной на дискурсивном подходе, - показать, какую роль в дискурсе о Брекcите играют две повторяющиеся схемы-образов - СДЕРЖИВАНИЕ и СИЛА, используемые, чтобы вызвать чувства страха и гнева и таким образом заставить читателей занять оборонительную позицию против ЕС во время референдума. Для анализа был создан корпус материалов объемом 43 576 слов, содержащихся в 34 аналитических и 13 передовых статьях (за период с 22 мая по 22 июня 2016 года). Анализ данных проводился на основе Теории концептуальной метафоры. Результаты показывают, что применение метафор, описывающих сценарий «возвращение контроля», в котором соединяются схемы-образов и концептуальные метафоры, способствуют усилению настроений о выходе из ЕС путем использования этой реалистической формулы, не требующей при этом сильного когнитивного напряжения. Изучение схем-образов - весьма плодотворный путь к пониманию репрезентаций сложных политических проблем, таких как Брексит, подкрепляемых использованием в сжатой форме простой, но при этом эмоционально нагруженной информации.

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