JoLIE 15:4/2022

METAPHORICAL LANGUAGE IN FOOTBALL MEDIA: A SEMANTIC AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS [1]

Bogdan Pîrlițeanu

1 Decembrie 1918 University of Alba Iulia, Romania

Abstract

This study explores the use of metaphorical language in football journalism, focusing on how metaphors function to convey layered meanings within contemporary sports discourse. By examining a corpus of metaphorical expressions drawn from English-language football media, the paper distinguishes between basic (literal) meanings and contextual (figurative) applications. It argues that metaphor serves not merely as decorative language but as a cognitive tool that structures how football is understood, narrated, and experienced by audiences. Through a detailed linguistic analysis, this paper demonstrates how metaphor contributes to the cultural resonance of football, shaping public perceptions of players, strategies, and outcomes. The research also investigates how these metaphors reflect broader conceptual domains—such as war, nature, and machinery—embedded in everyday language use. Importantly, the paper discusses the pedagogical implications of metaphor for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education, proposing football journalism as a rich, culturally relevant resource for metaphor instruction. Ultimately, the study reveals the extent to which football metaphors encapsulate cognitive, cultural, and communicative functions, bridging literal and figurative understanding in both native and non-native contexts.

Keywords: Football language; Metaphors; Semantics; Media discourse; Contextual meaning.

References

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Corpus

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Jackson, J. (2022, March 19). Pep Guardiola hopes to end the hunt for true No 9 with Erling Haaland. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/19/pep-guardiola-hunt-for-true-no-9-likely-to-end-with-erling-haaland-manchester-city

Liew, J. (2022, March 17). Nothing wasted in Jürgen Klopp’s ruthlessly efficient Liverpool. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/mar/17/nothing-wasted-in-jurgen-klopps-ruthlessly-efficient-liverpool

Lowe, S. (2022, March 14). Barça enjoy one night of bliss thanks to Dembélé, a man who wouldn’t move. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/mar/14/barcelona-are-buoyant-again-thanks-to-dembele-the-man-who-wouldnt-move

How to cite this paper: Pîrlițeanu, B. (2022). Metaphorical language in football media: A semantic and contextual analysis. Journal of Linguistic and Intercultural Education – JoLIE, 15(4), 131–146. https://doi.org/10.29302/jolie.2022.15.4.7

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[1] This paper was developed as part of the MA course Metaphorology in Contemporary Media, taught by Professor Teodora Popescu during the 2021–2022 academic year at 1 Decembrie 1918 University of Alba Iulia, Romania.