Bidenian and Harrisian Metaphors: A Corpus-Based Analysis of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ Political Discourse

Abstract

This research analyzes some political leaders’ discourse which aims to achieve the objective of persuading their audience to align with their respective viewpoints and policies. Applying the Conceptual Metaphor Theory by Lakoff and Johnson (1980) and guided by the principles of Critical Discourse Analysis by Fairclough (1995), this study examines a corpus of 40 speeches delivered by each of US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The analysis uncovers a recurrent utilization of metaphors grounded in the domain of life, such as "LIFE IS A BATTLEFIELD," "LIFE IS A JOURNEY," and "LIFE IS A GAME" by Biden. Similarly, Harris frequently employs "LIFE IS A BATTLEFIELD," which conveys attributes of resilience and fortitude, reflecting her capacity as Vice President. Furthermore, the analysis identifies another prevailing conceptual metaphor, "AMERICA IS A PERSON," by Harris. These metaphorical expressions operate as persuasive tools, facilitating the transmission of their respective political ideologies.