Abstract: Metaphor is an important research topic that has drawn intellectual pursuits since ancient times. It has been studied for more than two thousand years. Metaphor has become not only a linguistic phenomenon, but also means of cognition and ways of thinking. As a basic way for people’s thinking and expressing, metaphor has been commonly applied in political discourses, and the American president inaugural address is one of the important forms of political discourses. The speaker uses metaphors to set forth politics and make some commitments to persuade the public to support him and his policy, which finally seems powerful and emotional. The present thesis, according to conceptual metaphor theory proposed by Lakoff, attempts to make a study of conceptual metaphor in Obama's inaugural addresses  and to clarify the conceptual metaphors in political discourse and investigate the basis and functions of these metaphors at large which will also reveals how metaphor works in political language. By the analysis, the author has found out that the uses of conceptual metaphor abound in Obama’s speech and the functions of framing and persuasion have been fully reflected. This thesis focuses on the analysis of metaphor in political discourses. What’s more, the findings of the research not just offer supporting evidence for the conceptual metaphor theory, but also help linguistic learners get a better understanding of American policies.

Key words: metaphor; conceptual metaphor; Obama's inaugural addresses

CONTENTS

摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction1

  1.1 Aim and Significance of the Study

  1.2 Current Research of the Study

2. Theoretical Background.2

  2.1 Metaphor 

  2.2 Conceptual Metaphor 

3.Pragmatic Analysis of Conceptual Metaphor in Obama's Inaugural Addresses.3

  3.1 The Categorization of Conceptual Metaphor

     3.1.1 Structural Metaphor 

     3.1.2 Orientational Metaphor

     3.1.3 Ontological Metaphor 

  3.2 The Function of Conceptual Metaphor in Obama’s Inaugural Addresses

     3.2.1 Framing Functions

     3.2.2 Emotion-transferred and Persuasive Functions

4.Conclusion.10

Bibliography.11

Acknowledgements13