GUIDING THE NATION: METAPHORICAL FRAMING IN UK POLITICAL SPEECHES

Abstract

This paper explores the use of conceptual metaphors in British political speeches by Boris Johnson, Theresa May, and the late Queen Elizabeth II. It aims to show how metaphorical framing directs public opinion and shapes British national identity. This research contributes to the growing body of linguistic studies investigating political discourse to construct public perception and legitimise authority. The mix-methods approach utilising Conceptual Metaphor Theory, Critical Discourse Analysis, and Framing Analysis, this study examines the frequency, type, and cognitive mappings of metaphors used in selected speeches. Metaphors are classified into three categories: ontological, structural, and orientational. Findings show that each political figure employs different metaphor types to reflect their political stance. For Boris Johnson, ontological metaphors dominate (55%), with structural (35%) and orientational (10%) framing Britain as a tangible project and Brexit as a purposeful journey, evoking sentiments of liability and optimism. For Queen Elizabeth II, ontological metaphors also prevail (60%), alongside structural (20%) and orientational (20%) patterns that frame government as doer/protector and Britain as actor/scientist, projecting continuity and steady progress through public unity and trust in governmental institutions. For Theresa May, structural metaphors lead (50%) over ontological (45%) and orientational (5%), presenting governance as a journey or a battlefield, which communicates duty under constant hardships, framing her initiatives as hard-won progress. These patterns demonstrate how metaphor functions as a stylistic device and a cognitive and ideological tool, systematically framing political agency, articulating continuity, improvement, and aligning a certain leadership persona with culturally accepted narratives that construct public sentiment.