The recent political transition in Syria has created a unique context for examining how new leaders use metaphor to construct legitimacy and advocate for reform, a context has received limited attention in existing literature. Premised upon the principles of the conceptual metaphor theory and pragmatic approach of critical metaphor analysis, this study examines the figurative language utilized in the speeches of Al-Shar’a, the interim leader of the new Syrian administration. .The dataset was excerpted from online political speeches delivered by Ahmad Al-Shar’a on YouTube in 2024, instantly after dethroning Al-Assad regime. Findings indicate that these metaphor types are rhetorically governed by performing multiple purposes typified by taking a course of action towards an overall sociopolitical reform through delegitimizing Al-Assad regime, yet legitimizing Al-Shar’a’s new administration, and establishing trust and bonding ties with the Syrians. In addition, the textual coherence of the examined conceptual metaphors and patterns paves the way to fulfill the function of other-negative representation exemplified by Al-Assad regime, and self-positive representation demonstrated by Al-Shar’a’s new administration. Discursively, the studied metaphors serve as a persuasive code of ethics to the Syrians’ sociopolitical emancipation and hence initiating a new phase towards rebuilding the new Syrian state.
Tahat et al. (Fri,) studied this question.