Metaphor in Contemporary American Political Discourse

Abstract The metaphors used in contemporary American political discourse draw heavily and systematically from the terminology of sports and warfare. These sources provide metaphors for use in both campaign rhetoric and the jargon of political professionals. By studying the use of these metaphors in the period 1980-1985, we may conclude that politics is typically conceived of as being either a rule-bound contest (sports metaphors) or as an unpredictable exercise of power (war metaphors). These metaphors are deeply rooted in American culture and appeal widely to the American electorate, but they draw on experience more commonly shared by American males than by American females. Such metaphors may have the effect of excluding women from participating in the dominant discourse of politics and thus from achieving political power. The study of sports and war metaphors in American political discourse suggests the need for further study of metaphor as used in all forms of public discourse.