Conceptual Metaphors and Green Discourse – Green metaphors

This project focuses on the role of conceptual metaphors in shaping how environmental issues are understood, communicated, and acted upon. Drawing on Conceptual Metaphor Theory by Lakoff and Johnson (1980), the project investigates so-called Green metaphors, such as NATURE IS MOTHER, THE PLANET IS A PATIENT, or CLIMATE CHANGE IS WAR, which structure public discourse on sustainability. Students will collaboratively explore authentic environmental texts, including media articles, NGO campaigns, policy documents, and social media communication. They will identify recurring metaphorical patterns and examine their cognitive, emotional, and ideological effects. Particular attention is paid to how metaphors influence responsibility attribution, urgency, fear, hope, and proposed solutions in environmental debates.

The idea is that it emphasizes hands-on research and collaborative learning. Students will work in small, often multilingual teams to build a shared discourse corpus, analyze metaphorical framings, and critically reflect on their societal implications. Participants will experiment with alternative metaphorical framings to explore how sustainability communication could be reframed in more inclusive, responsible, or action-oriented ways.

General learning outcomes

• Identify and analyze conceptual metaphors used in environmental and sustainability discourse.
• Explain how metaphorical framings shape understanding, emotions, and responsibility in environmental debates.
• Critically evaluate environmental texts from media, policy, NGOs, and social media using metaphor analysis.
• Collaborate effectively to build and analyze a shared discourse corpus.
• Reflect on the ideological and societal implications of dominant Green metaphors.