Corpus Driven Analysis Of Conceptual Metaphors In Xi Jinping’s & Barack Obama’s Diplomatic Discourse

At present,China and the US play a vital role in international affairs,both countries5 Presidents’ speeches in different countries and regions ha’ve gained prominence thereby invoking a need for linguistic research on the speeches.This study employs Conceptual Metaphor Theory,Corpus Linguistics and Aristotelian Rhetoric to explore and analyse metaphors in diplomatic discourse.Using 18 speeches used by both President Xi of China and president Obama of America in four regions(Africa,Asia,Europe,South America),we explored and analysed:1)The statistical and comparative analysis of metaphors deployed in diplomatic discourse;2)The statistical analysis of conceptual metaphors enshrined in diplomatic discourse;3)The significance and distinction of conceptual metaphors deployed in diplomatic discourse including:significance of conceptual metaphors in Rhetoric;metaphor use and diplomatic thinking;metaphor use in relation to audience’s cultural sensibilities;cultural connotation in the choice of metaphors deployed.Finally,this study summarizes contribution to the study of speech discourse and outlines potential areas of future research.With respect to the statistical and comparative analysis of metaphors deployed in diplomatic discourse,we found out that both President Xi and President Obama,consciously,ubiquitously,systematically,and consistently utilize metaphors in their speeches on international platforms.Overall,from the 18 speeches,we found out that both Presidents deployed 1377 metaphors:Xi used 740 metaphors while Obama used 637 metaphors.This reinforces the fact that metaphor use in diplomatic discourse is not accidental but conscious and ubiquitous.From all the identified metaphors,we found out that President XiVs metaphors occupy 53%while President Obama’s metaphors occupy 47%.Upon analysis of regional distribution of metaphors,we found out that president Xi deployed 145 metaphors in Africa,161 metaphors in Asia,174 metaphors in Europe,188 metaphors in South America,and 72 metaphors at the UN while president Obama deployed 155 metaphors in Africa,149 metaphors in Asia,168 metaphors in Europe,102 metaphors in South America,and 63 metaphors at the UN.This reinforces the fact that metaphor use in diplomatic discourse is both consistent and systematic.This study maintains that the scale and the systematic distribution of metaphors in diplomatic speeches exposes high and worthwhile research potential in linguistics.With respect to the statistical analysis of conceptual metaphors enshrined in diplomatic discourse,we found out that the above metaphors(1377)can be mapped into 6 underlying concepts(source domains):Journey,Closeness,Revival,Construction,Up-Down,and War.Consistent with Lakoffs nomenclature,the 6 underlying concepts used by both presidents form 6 conceptual metaphors viz:DIPLOMACY IS A JOURNEY,DIPLOMACY IS CLOSENESS,DIPLOMACY IS REVIVAL,DIPLOMACY IS CONSTRUCTION,DIPLOMACY IS UP-DOWN,and DIPLOMACY IS WAR.President Xi in total employed 277 journey metaphors,representing 37%of all his conceptual metaphors,166 closeness metaphors,representing 22%of all his conceptual metaphors,59 revival metaphors,representing 8%of all his conceptual metaphors,89 construction metaphors,representing 12%of all his conceptual metaphors,95 up-down metaphors,representing 13%of all his conceptual metaphors,24 war metaphors,representing 3%of all his conceptual metaphors,and 30 other metaphors,representing 4%of all his conceptual metaphors.Similarly,President Obama in total employed 222 journey metaphors,representing 35%of all his conceptual metaphors,71 closeness metaphors,representing 11%of all his conceptual metaphors,128 revival metaphors,representing 200%of all his conceptual metaphors,51 construction metaphors,representing 8%of all his conceptual metaphors,58 up-down metaphors,representing 9%of all his conceptual metaphors,65 war metaphors,representing 10%of all his conceptual metaphors,and 42 other metaphors,representing 7%of all his conceptual metaphors.A look at a large number of literature review reveal,Journey metaphors,Construction metaphors and War metaphors are commonly employed in speech discourse while both Closeness metaphors and Revival metaphors is hereby a new finding that can enrich research in conceptual metaphors in diplomatic discourse.With respect to the significance and distinction of conceptual metaphors deployed in diplomatic discourse,we analysed four perspectives:significance of conceptual metaphors in Rhetoric;metaphor use and diplomatic thinking;metaphor use in relation to audience’s cultural sensibilities;cultural connotation in the choice of metaphors deployed.We found out:1).Conceptual metaphors primarily utilize Aristotle’s pathos rhetorical strategy to create mental images and a different experience in audience’s mind in order to trigger emotions and reinforce persuasion.2).By analyzing their frequently used metaphors,President Xi’s diplomatic thought enshrines ideals of Tolerance and Unity while President Obama’s diplomatic thought enshrines ideals of democracy,indicating that metaphors are not only vehicle for deploying rhetoric but also for transmitting speakers ideals.3).Choice of metaphor incorporates cultural features and sensibilities of the audience particularly evident in the pervasive use of proverbs harnessed from the audience cultural background.4).Choice of metaphors manifest cultural features of the speaker’s own cultural background.President Xi’s inclination to Journey and Closeness metaphors and President Obama’s inclination to Journey and Revival metaphors embodies features of their own culture.This study found out that,at present,there is no single comprehensive theoretical framework for conducting large scale research of metaphors in diplomatic discourse.This study employs conceptual metaphor theory as a foundation,and then adopts corpus linguistics to classify data and Aristotle’s Rhetoric to analyze rhetorical significance of metaphors.Thus,an integrated approach is more realistic in analyzing large scale linguistic data of metaphors from diplomatic discourse.With respect to large scale research of metaphors in diplomatic discourse,there is a gaping research gap.