Metaphorical models of evaluative adjectives in diplomatic discourse

Abstract

Metaphor as a rhetorical device has traditionally been a topic of interest in rhetoric, linguistics, and cognitive sciences. In the past, linguistic studies of metaphor have primarily focused on examining its semantic transformation and grammatical structure separately, while comparative studies of metaphorical models in specific diplomatic texts from different countries have been virtually absent. In the current context of geopolitical instability and information overload, every diplomatic interaction between China and Russia, the two largest powers, sends a powerful signal to the world about cooperation and their stabilizing role.

Metaphors have become an integral part of interstate communication strategies, allowing positions, expectations, and warnings to be conveyed subtly but effectively. Furthermore, evaluativity in diplomatic texts, as a linguistic category, often best reflects the Chinese and Russian perception of events and the emotional tendencies of the parties involved. This article attempts to classify types of metaphors of evaluative adjectives in Chinese and Russian diplomatic discourse, taking into account institutional discursive features, as well as the results of linguists' research. The material for the study was provided by metaphorical constructions and models selected from a corpus of texts related to Chinese and Russian public diplomatic communication.

The aim of the study is a comparative analysis of metaphor models of evaluative adjectives in Chinese and Russian diplomatic discourse. The results of the study show that the metaphorical models of the two countries depend on the events occurring in the country during a specific period of time.