The role of metaphor in exaggerating and marginalizing meaning in Al-Arabiya, Al-Jazeera, Al-Mayadeen, and Al-Alam channels according to Van Dijk’s theory

Authors
R. A. Ghaseminasab 1
A. Zeighami 2
S. R. Mirahmadi 2
1 PhD candidate in Arabic language and literature, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.
10.48311/AIJH.32.1.87
Abstract
There are two types of meaning for structures and sentences in linguistics: the first, or central meaning, refers to the common and conventional meaning that people use in their social life and the second meaning or marginal meaning is what is expressed by the implicit meaning of words or phrases. Metaphor is one of the linguistic tools used to convey implicit meaning. Its primary function is to create a vivid image in the mind of the recipient, thereby facilitating a deeper and more effective influence and persuasive power. Metaphors are widely employed in various texts, particularly news texts, which often aim to convey specific ideologies. This research investigates how the channels Al Arabiya, Al Jazeera, Al Mayadeen and Al Alam, during the year 2020, relied on metaphor as as a pivotal rhetorical strategy to strengthen and reinforce their ideological positions in the minds of their audiences. The study employs Van Dijk’s theory of discourse analysis to examine how these channels used metaphor in their coverage. What concerns us in this research is not only the artistic aspect of metaphor, but we believe that the function of metaphor does not lie in its artistic dimension alone, so we focus on the intended meaning of metaphor and the main purpose of its use. This topic was chosen because many Arab researchers and media writers use metaphor without analyzing the deeper, hidden meanings that metaphors aim to convey. Hence, this research seeks to fill that gap. The main reason for choosing these channels is that each of these channels has a different view of the events in Iran. The research concluded that the Saudi Al Arabiya channel tried to use the metaphor as a tool to exaggerate the meanings related to human rights, especially the rights of prisoners in Iran, and to marginalize the achievements that Iran has made in combating Corona. The Iranian Al-Alam and Lebanese Al-Mayadeen channels also tried to use the metaphor to unite the Iranian people to become stronger in combating the Corona virus. They also resorted to marginalization and did not point out the negatives in the Iranian fight. The Qatari channel Al Jazeera, meanwhile, focused on the United States’ violations of human rights in Iran and placed blame on the U.S. for its harsh sanctions against the Iranian people during these challenging times.

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The Journal of Research in Humanities
Volume 32, Issue 1
September 2024
Pages 87-108