Project Details
Description
The 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum exposed deep national divisions over Indigenous constitutional recognition, with
Facebook emerging as a key space for ideological contestation. This study explores how lexical metaphors shaped public perceptions,
social affiliations, and attitudes in the referendum’s "Yes" and "No" campaigns. While metaphor plays a crucial role in political discourse,
little is known about its function in constructing ideological bonds on social media.
This research examines Facebook posts and comments to investigate three key dimensions:
- The moral values associated with the referendum by institutions such as the Australian Electoral Commission and Australian Human
Rights Commission.
- The interpretive and functional varieties of metaphors used by supporters and opponents.
- The rhetorical strategies through which metaphors influence public attitudes and affiliations.
- Using corpus linguistics and Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL)—specifically the Appraisal framework (Martin & White, 2005) and
Affiliation theory (Knight, 2010; Zappavigna, 2018; Etaywe, 2024)—alongside cognitive metaphor studies, the study analyses metaphorical
framing in digital discourse.
Findings will reveal how lexical metaphors evoke emotions, create inclusion and exclusion, and subtly shape public opinion, reinforcing or
challenging ideological stances. This study contributes to discourse studies by demonstrating how metaphor operates as a cognitive and
ideological tool, influencing public trust in institutions and socio-political polarisation.
By highlighting the role of metaphor in digital political debates, this research provides practical insights for policymakers, educators, and
advocates navigating public discourse in divided societies.
Keywords: lexical metaphor, Facebook, digital discourse, disaffiliation, affiliation, 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum, bonding,
Systemic Functional Linguistics, corpus linguistics, framing.
Facebook emerging as a key space for ideological contestation. This study explores how lexical metaphors shaped public perceptions,
social affiliations, and attitudes in the referendum’s "Yes" and "No" campaigns. While metaphor plays a crucial role in political discourse,
little is known about its function in constructing ideological bonds on social media.
This research examines Facebook posts and comments to investigate three key dimensions:
- The moral values associated with the referendum by institutions such as the Australian Electoral Commission and Australian Human
Rights Commission.
- The interpretive and functional varieties of metaphors used by supporters and opponents.
- The rhetorical strategies through which metaphors influence public attitudes and affiliations.
- Using corpus linguistics and Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL)—specifically the Appraisal framework (Martin & White, 2005) and
Affiliation theory (Knight, 2010; Zappavigna, 2018; Etaywe, 2024)—alongside cognitive metaphor studies, the study analyses metaphorical
framing in digital discourse.
Findings will reveal how lexical metaphors evoke emotions, create inclusion and exclusion, and subtly shape public opinion, reinforcing or
challenging ideological stances. This study contributes to discourse studies by demonstrating how metaphor operates as a cognitive and
ideological tool, influencing public trust in institutions and socio-political polarisation.
By highlighting the role of metaphor in digital political debates, this research provides practical insights for policymakers, educators, and
advocates navigating public discourse in divided societies.
Keywords: lexical metaphor, Facebook, digital discourse, disaffiliation, affiliation, 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum, bonding,
Systemic Functional Linguistics, corpus linguistics, framing.
| Status | Not started |
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