Understanding mangrove conservation through metaphors in ecological discourse: An ecolinguistics study

Metaphor is deeply pervasive in human life. It is not only used in aesthetic or literary languages but also in everyday colloquial speech. This study aims to investigate conceptual metaphor in ecological discourse related to mangrove conservation on the eastern coast of North Sumatra and decipher th...

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Main Authors: Muhammad Kiki Wardana, Dwi Widayati, Mulyadi Mulyadi, Tengku Thyrhaya Zein
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitas Syiah Kuala 2025-05-01
Series:Studies in English Language and Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jurnal.usk.ac.id/SiELE/article/view/37029
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author Muhammad Kiki Wardana
Dwi Widayati
Mulyadi Mulyadi
Tengku Thyrhaya Zein
author_facet Muhammad Kiki Wardana
Dwi Widayati
Mulyadi Mulyadi
Tengku Thyrhaya Zein
author_sort Muhammad Kiki Wardana
collection DOAJ
description Metaphor is deeply pervasive in human life. It is not only used in aesthetic or literary languages but also in everyday colloquial speech. This study aims to investigate conceptual metaphor in ecological discourse related to mangrove conservation on the eastern coast of North Sumatra and decipher the underlying ecosophy. The researchers also sought to figure out the ecosophical values reflected in the metaphor using an ecolinguistics perspective. A qualitative method was employed to explore the metaphorical expressions concerning mangroves. The data were collected from a report and an interview related to mangrove conservation at Pantai Sejarah Tourism Centre and Mangrove Conservation in Belawan, North Sumatra. The data were analyzed using Steen’s Metaphor Identification Process (MIP). The results showed that there are 23 instances of conceptual metaphors, categorized into five metaphorical conceptualizations: ‘mangroves are war’, ‘mangroves are people’, ‘mangroves are a valuable commodity’, ‘mangroves are building’, and ‘mangroves are containers’. These conceptual metaphors have specific linguistic expressions that establish the metaphors. Each metaphor was examined under the lens of ecosophy to determine whether or not the language used promotes the ecosophy. The implications of the study reflect that conceptual metaphors indeed exist in ecological discourse on mangrove conservation, indicating that mangroves are cognitively conceptualized in people’s minds, talked about, and integrated into everyday life.
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spelling doaj-art-5373547dc8744ae09894d3b35c08351a2025-08-20T03:22:18ZengUniversitas Syiah KualaStudies in English Language and Education2355-27942461-02752025-05-0112294796010.24815/siele.v12i2.3702920642Understanding mangrove conservation through metaphors in ecological discourse: An ecolinguistics studyMuhammad Kiki Wardana0Dwi Widayati1Mulyadi Mulyadi2Tengku Thyrhaya Zein3Universitas Sumatera UtaraUniversitas Sumatera UtaraUniversitas Sumatera UtaraUniversitas Sumatera UtaraMetaphor is deeply pervasive in human life. It is not only used in aesthetic or literary languages but also in everyday colloquial speech. This study aims to investigate conceptual metaphor in ecological discourse related to mangrove conservation on the eastern coast of North Sumatra and decipher the underlying ecosophy. The researchers also sought to figure out the ecosophical values reflected in the metaphor using an ecolinguistics perspective. A qualitative method was employed to explore the metaphorical expressions concerning mangroves. The data were collected from a report and an interview related to mangrove conservation at Pantai Sejarah Tourism Centre and Mangrove Conservation in Belawan, North Sumatra. The data were analyzed using Steen’s Metaphor Identification Process (MIP). The results showed that there are 23 instances of conceptual metaphors, categorized into five metaphorical conceptualizations: ‘mangroves are war’, ‘mangroves are people’, ‘mangroves are a valuable commodity’, ‘mangroves are building’, and ‘mangroves are containers’. These conceptual metaphors have specific linguistic expressions that establish the metaphors. Each metaphor was examined under the lens of ecosophy to determine whether or not the language used promotes the ecosophy. The implications of the study reflect that conceptual metaphors indeed exist in ecological discourse on mangrove conservation, indicating that mangroves are cognitively conceptualized in people’s minds, talked about, and integrated into everyday life.https://jurnal.usk.ac.id/SiELE/article/view/37029conceptual metaphor theoryecolinguisticsecosophymangroves
spellingShingle Muhammad Kiki Wardana
Dwi Widayati
Mulyadi Mulyadi
Tengku Thyrhaya Zein
Understanding mangrove conservation through metaphors in ecological discourse: An ecolinguistics study
Studies in English Language and Education
conceptual metaphor theory
ecolinguistics
ecosophy
mangroves
title Understanding mangrove conservation through metaphors in ecological discourse: An ecolinguistics study
title_full Understanding mangrove conservation through metaphors in ecological discourse: An ecolinguistics study
title_fullStr Understanding mangrove conservation through metaphors in ecological discourse: An ecolinguistics study
title_full_unstemmed Understanding mangrove conservation through metaphors in ecological discourse: An ecolinguistics study
title_short Understanding mangrove conservation through metaphors in ecological discourse: An ecolinguistics study
title_sort understanding mangrove conservation through metaphors in ecological discourse an ecolinguistics study
topic conceptual metaphor theory
ecolinguistics
ecosophy
mangroves
url https://jurnal.usk.ac.id/SiELE/article/view/37029
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AT dwiwidayati understandingmangroveconservationthroughmetaphorsinecologicaldiscourseanecolinguisticsstudy
AT mulyadimulyadi understandingmangroveconservationthroughmetaphorsinecologicaldiscourseanecolinguisticsstudy
AT tengkuthyrhayazein understandingmangroveconservationthroughmetaphorsinecologicaldiscourseanecolinguisticsstudy