Disease as Sociopolitical Metaphor in Marina Mahathir’s Columns
Abstract
Conceptual metaphors are powerful tools in contemporary journalism, helping writers convey complex ideas and evoke strong emotions. Among them, health metaphors stand out for their striking yet subtle ability to illustrate social and political issues. However, a review of the literature reveals a lack of published research on metaphors in news columns, particularly within the Malaysian context. This study critically analyses 24 articles written by Marina Mahathir in her column – Musings – between 2015 and 2020 for The Star Online, a local English-language daily, focusing on the use of health metaphors. Rooted in Lakoff and Johnson’s Conceptual Metaphor Theory (1980) and Charteris-Black’s Critical Metaphor Analysis (2004), the study examines the prevalence of health and disease metaphors in Marina’s writing and explores how her ideologies are conveyed through these metaphors, reflecting her inclination to confront sensitive, polarising, and often controversial subjects, despite the persistent challenges posed by media censorship in the country. Findings showed Marina’s affinity for health metaphors, possibly aimed at compelling readers to engage with societal and political issues and highlighting their urgency and the need to address them. By likening these issues to diseases, Marina effectively calls for immediate and comprehensive interventions akin to medical treatments. This study underscores the significant role of health metaphors in news columns, countering the notion that metaphors are mere rhetorical tools and emphasising their power as cognitive and ideological devices that shape public perception.
Keywords: conceptual metaphor; health metaphor; ideology; news column; sociopolitical discourse
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/3L-2025-3102-04
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