Abstract

Political metaphors are populated among the American politicians due to its specific function. Politicians often use political metaphors when they are explaining political opinions. Political metaphor can help them to reach their aims by connecting the concrete conceptions to the abstract conceptions. Firstly, this dissertation will give a brief introduction on traditional metaphor theories, the way to use political metaphors in the discourses to express politicians’ viewpoints and how it work to affect and control people’s way of thinking. Secondly, this dissertation also will give brief information about President Bush and the Republican Party’s political model. Eventually, by using the conceptual metaphor theories, the author will analyze the metaphors showed in the discourse. The aim is to study the values of the Republic Party of the U.S. On the war aspect, Bush would like to adopt tough strategies to fight against any enemy who has menace. He was good at using metaphors represent danger which can motivate and arouse the audience’s emotion. On the financial aspect, he selected the exaggerated metaphors. The purpose is to make his views reasonable and acceptable. This dissertation could help people to learn more about the persuasive function of the political metaphors and to strengthen the understanding of the Republican Party.

Keywords: Political Metaphor; the State of the Union; President Bush; the American Republic Party

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction1

1.1 Research background.1

1.2 Purpose and significance of the research2

1.3 Construction of the dissertation.2

2. Research Status.3

2.1 The overseas studies3

2.2 The domestic studies.3

3. Theoretical Basis.4

3.1 Conceptual metaphor.4

3.2 Political metaphor6

4. President Bush and the Republican Party’s Political Model8

4.1 President Bush8

4.2 Republican Party’s political model8

5. Analysis of the States of the Union13

5.1The war aspect.13

5.2 The financial aspect17

6. Conclusion.19

References.21