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July 3, 2026Metaphor and Symbol

QuakeBox Similes: Change and Persistence in Similes in Post-earthquake Narratives

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Authors

CTChristopher ThomsonKSKarin StahelJKJeanette King

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Overview

Longitudinal analysis investigates simile use in retold earthquake stories, highlighting rhetorical strategies over time.

Key Points

  • This research examines how similes in earthquake narratives evolve over time after traumatic events, focusing on their emotional and concrete qualities.
  • Analyzed similes from the QuakeBox corpus collected seven years apart following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
  • Categorized similes into 'distanced' and 'direct' based on emotional versus concrete references.
  • Investigated source and target domains of similes and any changes in their use during retellings.
  • The total number of similes used remained consistent over time alongside the proportions of direct and distanced similes.
  • Prominent source domains included war and media, with variations in specific simile usage among speakers.
  • Distinct rhetorical strategies were identified, with similes effectively communicating the intensity and strangeness of disaster experiences.

Cite This Study

Thomson et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a4753435c29257aa257984fhttps://doi.org/10.1080/10926488.2025.2610012
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