Abstract
This paper focuses on the ECOSYSTEM HEALTH metaphor which has long prevailed in environmental communication. Following the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we propose a contrastive view on the use of the ECOSYSTEM HEALTH metaphor in environmental discourse: we distinguish the metaphorical expressions used before the pandemic from the ones used during the pandemic. This distinction is aimed at identifying the new arguments promoted by COVID-19 metaphors. The publications released by the international environmental organization Extinction Rebellion are of particular interest. Through a detailed analysis of texts published between January and July 2020, we show that the impact of COVID-19 has modified our understanding of the ECOSYSTEM HEALTH metaphor. While environmentalists used to depict the environment as a SICK BODY prior the pandemic, the occurrences discussed below demonstrate that COVID-19 metaphors highlight the human characteristics associated with the source domain HEALTH.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 230-244 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Environmental Communication |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 1 Mar 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2023 |
Keywords
- ecosystem health
- metaphor
- COVID-19
- Extinction Rebellion
- Climate Change
- Ecosystem health
- climate change