Political Discourse as Phenomenon of Empirical Knowledge

SIAR-Global Journal of Arts & Humanities (GJAH) www.siarpublications.org [email protected] Vol. 1 Issue 1 Sept.-Oct. 2025 26 Official Publication of the Society of Innovative Academic ResearchersSIAR PUBLICATIONS Advancing Real-Time Innovative Knowledge Globally. Copyright ©SIAR Publications. All rights Reserved. Political Discourse as Phenomenon of Empirical Knowledge EJIKE, Promise Uzochi Department of English and Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State. ABSTRACT This study provides a comprehensive linguistic and discourse-based analysis of selected political speeches delivered by Senator Douye Diri, the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Drawing on the frameworks of Conceptual Metaphor Theory [CMT] and Critical Discourse Analysis [CDA], the research explores how language is strategically employed to construct meaning, shape ideology, and influence public perception within the socio-political landscape of Bayelsa State. Using a qualitative descriptive research design, the study examines key speeches such as “The Budget of Growth 2021,” inaugural addresses, and educational policy statements to uncover the deployment of metaphorical and rhetorical devices) in advancing governance narratives. Findings reveal that Governor Diri’s speeches employ metaphors such as development is a journey, education as a pathway to growth, and the state as a family unit to communicate visions of unity, progress, and moral governance. Through the strategic use of inclusive pronouns and emotive expressions), he constructs a discourse of shared responsibility and legitimacy while appealing to values of justice, service, and collective resilience. The analysis demonstrates that his political language goes beyond rhetoric, serving as an instrument of persuasion and ideological framing). The study concludes that political discourse in Nigeria is a potent instrument for constructing meaning and political identity. It recommends extending metaphorical and discoursebased analysis to digital communication platforms), where language continues to redefine political communication in the contemporary era. KEYWORDS: Political discourse, Critical Discourse Analysis, Conceptual Metaphor Theory. INTRODUCTION In contemporary society, political speeches play a crucial role in shaping public discourse and influencing public opinion. They serve as powerful tools for politicians to express their visions, persuade the electorates as well as anyone who cares to listen and as well garner support for their ideologies and policies. As such, an analysis of a textual stylistic perspective provides valuable insights into the strategies and techniques employed by politicians to achieve their communicative goals. This dissertation conducts a critical discourse analysis of selected political speeches of Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, examining the linguistic features, metaphorical and discursive strategies utilized by the Governor to convey his political messages effectively. Understanding the background of the study is crucial to contextualize the research within existing knowledge and scholarly contributions. The practice of politics has over the years been supplied 27 Official Publication of the Society of Innovative Academic ResearchersSIAR PUBLICATIONS Advancing Real-Time Innovative Knowledge Globally. Copyright ©SIAR Publications. All rights Reserved. with the tactful formulation of perceptions and beliefs about significant occurrences of problems, policy changes and most significantly of leaders. Amidst this construction of beliefs are a clash of interests, persuasion and manipulation, imposition of opinions, definition of allies and opponents etc. There is, therefore always, a linguistic, discursive and communicative dimension to the field of politics. Edelman (1985:1) attests to this phenomenon when he commented that while coercion and intimidation help to check resistance in all political systems, the key course must always be the evocation of meanings that legitimize favored courses of action and threaten or reassure people so as to encourage them to be supportive or remain inactive. This evocation of meanings undoubtedly hinges on carefully crafted speeches which have therefore become an integral component to the field of politics. This is due to their intended objective which is to persuade the audience to accept the stance of the speech maker. To this end, political speeches assume traits such as subtle mystification and distortion in their quest to persuade the audience to accept the stance of the speech maker (Edelman,1985). In the struggle for political power between those who seek to maintain power and those who seek to resist it for instance, the ability of a political speech to mystify and distort becomes very crucial. In this, several scholars have explored the stylistic and rhetorical aspects of political speeches, explaining the intricate relationship between language and politics. For instance, Oyetade and Oyimade (2016) conducted an analysis on political speeches in Nigeria, focusing on the linguistic features that contribute to effective political communication. Their study revealed the predominant use of persuasive strategies such as metaphor, repetition and parallelism in political speeches, emphasizing the significance of stylistic choices for successful communication. Furthermore, Farneti and Ross (2018) investigated the rhetorical strategies employed by political leaders, highlighting the role of ethos, pathos and logos in persuasive discourse. Their study emphasized how politicians adopt their linguistic choices to appeal to the emotion and rationality of their audience, enabling them to build trust and credibility. The expression of thoughts, values, views, wishes, emotions revolve hugely around language. Language is what is spoken or written. It consists of the use of words in a meaningful and agreed order. Aims and Objectives 1. To analyze the embedded linguistic features in Governor Diri’s language as used to construct his political identity and authority. To evaluate how Governor Diri situates his speeches to create a sense of inclusion or exclusion. LITERATURE AND THEORETICAL REVIEW Textual Analysis Textual analysis scrutinizes the meaning and context of written text, focusing on linguistic and symbolic aspects. The conveyance of meaning is language dependent. In textual analysis, language is seen beyond the surface as how it constructs reality and shapes perceptions. Brown (2015) emphasizes that textual analysis is a critical tool for uncovering how language constructs, maintains, and challenges power relations within society. It is widely applied in the area of communication as it is a holistic discipline approach that cuts across various disciplines related to social sciences and humanities. The scholar went on to comment on the methodologies of textual analysis, emphasizing its ability to integrate variations that delve into more specific techniques within the related field such as content analysis, semiotics, interactional analysis, and rhetoric criticism. Fairclough (2015) argues that language is not neutral—it is a social practice 28 Official Publication of the Society of Innovative Academic ResearchersSIAR PUBLICATIONS Advancing Real-Time Innovative Knowledge Globally. Copyright ©SIAR Publications. All rights Reserved. deeply intertwined with power relations and ideology. The origin of textual analysis can be seen in the Greek myth of Hermes, the mythological God. In his exploration, when Hermes was saddled with the significant role of transmitting messages from the gods to artificial mortals, he had to initially interpret the divine texts and later translate and elucidate their meaning in a language easy to comprehend by ordinary humans. Textual analysis encompasses a wide understanding of language and symbols contained in texts to obtain insights concerning how readers understand the text. Textual analysis aims to understand the meaning or natural meaning present in the text. Textual analysis is a fundamental tool employed by various researchers to obtain insights into how people understand or see the world. It serves as a method, a process for obtaining information, especially for readers seeking to understand how individual of various cultures and subcultures sees their identity and their position in the world (Alan, 2012). In addition, Aneri (2020) posited that when discussing textual analysis, we take into account the possibility surrounding the most appropriate understanding of a given context. Omozuwa (2013) provides insight to uncover the intended purpose of textual analysis. He submitted that the hallmark of textual analysis goes beyond revealing a definite or concealed meaning of a text rather; our intent is to identity and recognize a wider array of potential meanings fundamental to the material analyzed. Instead of trying to reveal the hidden meanings, explore the writer’s subconscious intentions, or identity potential biases within the given text, we emphasized employing different techniques or perspectives. This principle provides us with a better understanding and interpretation of the analyzed materials by taking into account the cultural and ideological perspectives established within a particular time. Additionally, it contributes to the text gaining wide spread recognition and becoming an inherent part of human understanding. The real purpose of textual analysis goes beyond a mere examination of the text’s structure or appearance; it intends to obtain the accurate meaning or message of a given text. It does not only focus on explaining or interpreting the structure of the text. Rather, it encompasses developing a dynamic structure of the text, maintaining the real context of the work and its essence. Ultimately, textual analysis does not try to reveal what constitutes the text but, instead, seeks to find out how the text was developed and disseminated. Political Speeches It is widely believed that language and politics are closely related; language is for instance, the voice with which politics is heard, is the lifeblood of politics. It is the channel through which political discourse, thoughts and ideas are extensively dispersed. Mazrui (1975:48) substantiates this when he writes that: “Language is the most important point of entry into habit of thought of people. It emboldens within itself circulative association derived from the total experience of its people”. Language is the mental faculty that allows humans to undertake linguistic behavior. It is the tool with which government tries to control not only the behavior but also the thought of the electorates or citizens. It is debatable whether language would have developed in the first place without politics and certain that politics would never have developed without language. Political speeches serve as a critical platform for public figures and leaders to communicate their policies, ideas, and visions to the masses. Language is the communicative tool for avoiding political conflict as well as incites. One form of constructive ambiguity is mastering the art of generalization. Some shrewd politicians endeavor to avoid committing themselves to electoral promises that they are not sure they can fulfill. Although Politicians are creative in terms of creativity in language usage (Daniel 2004:243) at campaign rallies, political speeches are made in one language or the other, which in most of the time, the proficiency of a fluent speaker has a greater positive effect on the 29 Official Publication of the Society of Innovative Academic ResearchersSIAR PUBLICATIONS Advancing Real-Time Innovative Knowledge Globally. Copyright ©SIAR Publications. All rights Reserved. electorates, who believe that in a changing world, the affairs of the states should be entrusted in the hands of the literates (Omoniyi 2004:112). It is imperative to note that people want their leaders to offer hope and prospects of a brighter future. Language such as English language in Nigeria has proven to be of tremendous value to Nigerian politicians. Karasik (2012) also emphasizes that political communication is deeply shaped by cultural codes, power dynamics, and strategic language use. He provides a framework for analyzing how politicians construct meaning and influence public perception Political speech is employed as a technique to sway power to impact and influence people’s thoughts and opinions. It stands as a technique used to govern the society at large. According to Chilton (2018), political speech goes beyond mere communication; it encompasses strategic and influential devices used to deceive and persuade the perceptions and opinions of the public for political interest. Speech is heard by a large number of people, and each individual possesses different interpretations that can influence the candidates’ chances of winning. In his David (2012) significantly opined that a political speech is not merely a vehicle for conveying information, but a strategic tool for shaping social relationships, influencing public perception, and performing actions through language. He explained that political speech as a device used for establishing and maintaining social interaction, conveying feelings and facilitating insights, policies, and programs in any society. From a pragmatic perspective, this conforms to Speech Act Theory, wherein the outcome of a speech act often depends on the speaker’s intention and the context in which the words were spoken. In political speech, concepts and ideologies must be communicated through language to ensure unity from the immediate audiences and as well from individuals who may come in contact with parts of the speech through media coverage at a later period (Nelly, 2012). The rationale is that political speech seeks to convince and influence not only those physically seen at the time the speech was made but also include a broad audience that may come across it on other media platforms. Words and expressions are strategically utilized or excluded to influence interpretations in various areas. Additionally, political speeches are designed by a network of proficient speechwriters well-grounded in the use of persuasive language. The outcome of a political speech may not be based on correctness or truthfulness; rather it may lie on the effective presentation of arguments (Sam, 2015). Various speeches are communicated to the people prior to the election; these speeches can also be viewed as pre-election special addresses, specifically during campaigns and rallies. Ultimately, a political speech stands as a text, an outcome, and a procedure that can be spoken or penned down (Hashim, 2015). However, several politicians are unobservant of the relationship between spoken words, the actual meanings of the words, and the steps implied by the spoken words. In the study of political speeches, a well-known theory that has tested and proven efficacy and is appropriate for analysis is the speech act theory. Citizens whose system of governance is democratic in nature are given the privilege to exercise their choice of leadership by going to the polling unit to cast their vote during the election period either for individual candidates or political parties (Janet, 2023). Regardless of the fact whether individuals vote is based on their political belief, or not, their choice of governance will be determined by the communication through language. Karasik (2012) asserted that all through various political systems, including, autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic, leaders have historically employed spoken word to convince their candidates of their competence and accountability in occupying such position. In essence, the use of persuasive language applies to various types of government structures. Stylistic Study 30 Official Publication of the Society of Innovative Academic ResearchersSIAR PUBLICATIONS Advancing Real-Time Innovative Knowledge Globally. Copyright ©SIAR Publications. All rights Reserved. Generally, stylistic study is seen as a contemporary version of the ancient field of `rhetoric`. In the time past, Rhetoric educated students on how argument should be organized and structured, the proficient use of figures of speech and the ultimate crafting and speech variation or writing structure to attain the highest peak. The comparison indicates that, just like rhetoric, stylistics centres on how language and style are effectively used to persuade or create friendly communication (Wales, 2013). In other words, it is the study and examination of texts from a linguistic angle. According to Weber (2018), stylistics serve as a connector between literary criticism and language, bringing together the analysis of literature with the study of language. However, stylistics is not an independent area of study; instead, it functions at the meeting point of these disciplines. Stylistic studies generally focus on literary works but do not exclusively depend on “canonical literary works”. The scope of stylistic study goes beyond its analytical scope rather it covers a wide range of written works spanning various genres which includes those not conventionally considered prestigious in the literary domain. The key function and essence of stylistic study depends on its capacity to streamline immediate comprehension of spoken words and texts, thereby optimizing our appreciation of the texts. According to Sebeok (2020), the hallmark of most stylistics is not solely to describe the conventional features of texts in separation, but instead to describe their operating function for interpreting the text; or to establish a link between literary outcomes with linguistically relevant factors. Similarly, Simpson (2014) viewed that stylistics study and aspects of linguistic study apply to literary works, establishing the relationship between language style and artistic function, with a focus on questions of motivation such as “why “and “how “instead of “what”. However, there are two types of stylistics namely, literature stylistics and general stylistics. Consequently, stylistic approaches can and have been utilized to explore non-fictional or nonliterature works such as advertising, academic writing, political speeches, news broadcasting and other semiotic features such as TV and picture-oriented marketing, film, diverse-mode publications, etc. Stylisticians largely apply linguistic models, theories, and frameworks in text analysis to describe why a text appears to be written in a particular way it does and why it gives itself to definite or different interpretations of meaning. Generally, stylistics, as its name suggests, centres on the style seen in both spoken and written language. Its root depends on the notion that every time we use language for speaking or writing, we always consciously and unconsciously make decisions concerning the words we select (lexical selection) and how we employ them (syntactic structure). These selections generally contribute to a unique style, and changes in these choices result in an alteration in the language style. This is the rationale of what stylistics seeks to explore: how scholars attain certain outcomes through their language styles and how readers interpret these changes. Thus, stylistic study is seen as the study of linguistic styles and the investigation of how language is used or applied (Aminu, 2015). In conclusion, stylistics study is shaped by the investigation of linguistic style in different contexts, either linguistically or situational. However, due to the complex historical view and broad spectrum of issues involved in the examination of this field of study, identifying a definitive definition or interpretation of stylistics becomes a challenge. Also, establishing a clear understanding between stylistics and other branches of linguistic study that discuss text analysis also proves to be intricate 31 Official Publication of the Society of Innovative Academic ResearchersSIAR PUBLICATIONS Advancing Real-Time Innovative Knowledge Globally. Copyright ©SIAR Publications. All rights Reserved. Conceptual Metaphor Theory Conceptual Metaphor as propounded by Lakoff and Johnson in 1980 believes that metaphorical language is a reflection of how humans conceptualize abstract concepts through concrete experiences other than stylistic devices. It suggests that understanding of complex and intangible concepts is usually structured and understood in terms of more concrete domains with metaphorical mappings serving as a cognitive mechanism for corresponding knowledge between domains. Lakoff and Johnson (1980) argue that metaphors shape our conceptual system and influence how we perceive reality. It shapes our views without we realizing it. Also, Lakoff (2008) further explains that metaphor is not merely a linguistic flourish but a neural mechanism that structures thought. Metaphor resides not only in language but also in our thoughts. They are not only used in viewing the world but in molding our thoughts. The revised edition by Lakoff and Johnson (2003) expand on the embodied nature of metaphor and it cultural variability Metaphors such as life is journey can actually govern the way we think about life: we set goals we want to reach, we do our best to reach those goals preparing our thoughts and minds in case obstacles are met. Casasanto (2019) posited that conceptual metaphor theory attributes meaning to abstract ideas through metaphorical connection and has been conceptualized within the terms of bound and space, has move to cover areas such as the dynamic nature of metaphor usage and the role they perform as cognitive devices in audiovisual cinematic communication. This indicates a critical analysis of how connected mental ideas of the world are transformed into clear images as well as giving understanding of time and space that transcends beyond mere sequential evolution. In response to the psychoanalytic-semiotic theoretical paradigm, the fundamental study and theoretical principles of conceptual metaphor theory has laid the premise for the establishment of cognitive film theory and in turn, it has become a catalyst within the broad scope of cognitive media studies. Fairclough (2015) argues that language is not neutral—it is a social practice deeply intertwined with power relations and ideology. Notwithstanding, its significance the theory has been subjected to objection based of its deficiency in providing detailed insight on how research should be carried out and concise guidelines for conducting evaluation in a systematic manner that can emulated by others (Paulo, 2020). A key objection raised against the theory stems from the acknowledgement that one metaphorical expression can be connected with multifaceted conceptual metaphors, instead of being connected to just one specific meaning or interpretation. The standard definition of conceptual metaphor theory entails analyzing one domain of experience by linking to concrete one. Also, this definition went further to provide insight on the two elements of conceptual metaphor which are the cognitive process of understanding (process aspect) and the product aspect (resulting conceptual pattern connected by metaphor). The conceptual metaphor theory is made up both the source domain which is a concrete domain used to interpret abstract or less tangible ideas known as target example. Looking at the conceptual metaphor theory and how these two domains apply, for instance Life is a Journey is an example of conceptual metaphor theory. Also, Life is a Journey appears to be more of a tangible and concrete domain than abstract concept of life. Thus, Journey is considered as the source domain in this metaphor, Life is a Journey. In this sense, conceptual metaphor theory asserts that concrete or tangible domains serve as a source domain for more abstract concepts in metaphor. This conclusion 32 Official Publication of the Society of Innovative Academic ResearchersSIAR PUBLICATIONS Advancing Real-Time Innovative Knowledge Globally. Copyright ©SIAR Publications. All rights Reserved. is derived from the examination of multiple conceptual metaphors seen in existing literatures, examples of which include metaphors such as Life is a Journey, Anger is Fire, and Theories are Building. Feldman (2016) mentioned that the belief that most conceptual metaphors use tangible domains as sources and abstract domains as targets is naturally comprehensible. For example, Life is complex and abstract, anger is an internal emotion, and theory is an intricate mental construction, which conforms to this assumption or belief. In line with the above example, an abstract or nonconcrete idea (the target) is conceptualized as and views more of concrete and articulated comprehensible concepts (source). Vicente (2020) posited that this entry provides a clear understanding of abstract concepts by connecting it with something that is more tangible and physical. In an attempt to comprehend the world, it is more rationale and reasonable to perceive abstract ideas or less complex ideas to interpret domains in terms of concrete which is easy to comprehend and more straightforward. Ning (2018) posited that this method enables easy comprehension of intricate ideas by connecting complex ideas with a more understandable and straightforward concept. Taking cognizance of the oddness and lack of inherent clarity in an attempt to metaphorically comprehend concepts such as Journey as life, anger as fire, buildings as theories, this approach does provide clarity or insights because we already have a comprehendible understanding and usage of journeys, fire and building compared to nonconcrete concepts of life, anger and theories. In other words, it is right to say that metaphorical expressions go for nonconcrete concepts to more physical concepts such instances are commonly held back specific cases such as artistic, poetic or stylistic purposes, instead of being the established procedure. This common entry of metaphorical conceptualizes happens to be more of realistic and more of nonconcrete concepts in our daily life situations. According to the conceptual metaphor theory, metaphors stay not only in linguistic usage but also to process thought. They are not only seen in speech but also in cognitive activities, as we conceptualize and explore other aspects of the world. Conceptual metaphor theory draws a distinction between languages metaphors which are metaphorical terms used in communication, and conceptual metaphors which are fundamental patterns of thought we use in our daily communication to comprehend the dynamic nature of the world. As noted in the metaphorical example that Life is a Journey, shapes our perception about life. It proposes that way we view life using metaphorical concepts; we tend to have the capacity of set goals, create futuristic plans and navigate complex challenges, consider long-lasting option, and make preferences that suit our understanding about the journey we intend to embark on. This metaphorical expression shapes our thoughts about life and influences the way we communicate about it thereby using the language that connects our journey to describes our experiences and vision. Basically, metaphor takes place in form of a thought (Reddy, 2013). The idea of thinking about one domain in the aspects of another can have different meanings. First and foremost, individuals may be influenced by a particular conceptual metaphor, for instance, ‘JOURNEY’ in how they interpret a particular domain, such as Life. Secondly, individuals may use the consequences related to a domain, for example, journey in a conceptual metaphor and apply it to a different domain such as life in their way of thinking. Next, during the process of establishing or conceptualizing a linguistic metaphor, both the source and targets concepts are employed, thereby creating a more comprehensive and usage of the metaphor. One of the key implications of the belief that metaphors are conceptual is that we tend to understand and view certain things in a metaphorical way. As a 33 Official Publication of the Society of Innovative Academic ResearchersSIAR PUBLICATIONS Advancing Real-Time Innovative Knowledge Globally. Copyright ©SIAR Publications. All rights Reserved. result, our conceptual belief shapes our behaviour and how we communicate with the environment, ultimately, we tend to always behave in acts that conform to these metaphorical conceptions. More so, when we metaphorical comprehend an abstract or non-concrete idea by attributing it to a more tangible concept, we form a metaphorical experience. For instance, imagining life as a journey versus viewing it as movie world, as portrayed by Shakespeare’s in his quote: “The entire world is a stage/ men and women are merely players” this reads that human beings have different views about life. These different views emanated from different metaphorical experiences, ultimately influencing the way we think, reason, and comprehend the universal. Ortony (2013) submitted that when incorporating a new metaphorical idea (source domain) to a particular idea or notion (target domain) it changes our thought around the target domain. At times, the use of metaphorical ideas has the capacity to develop the target domain even though it has never existed before. This entry can be seen in the creations of words such as ‘comprehension’, which being an abstracts applies to a metaphorical cognition of the word “grasping”. With this understanding, we see that metaphorical concepts shape the use of language and conceptualization. Furthermore, if metaphor is associated with the way we think and conceptualize ideas, then conceptual metaphor can be seen in any form of communication in that system. Studies have also indicated that conceptual metaphors seen in language also portray gestures, visual representation, such as cartoons, visual image, like paintings, and other forms of communication. While the metaphors in these forms of communication may not be fully expressed in our day-to-day conversation and perception, many of them share or have something in common (Keysar, 1992) Moving forward, conceptual metaphor has its foundation premises in human understanding and perception (Matthew, 2007). Conceptual metaphor theory provides a profound insights and rationale for the development of these metaphors. Let’s take another example of conceptual metaphor theory “INTENSITY IN HEAT”. This metaphor indicates that a general term for various specific terms such as “ANGER IS FIRE”, “EUTHUSIASM IS FIRE” and “CONFLICTS IS FIRE”. Regardless of the differences between the concepts of intensity and heat, Conceptual Metaphor Theory posits that there is a connection between these concepts based on our experiences. This connection between heat and intensity stands as the foundation for using “HEAT”, and it is the metaphorical root for “INTENSITY” notwithstanding the fact that “HEAT” is a more tangible and concrete term. Conceptual metaphor of this nature is known as “primary metaphor” as coined by Lakoff and Johnson, who got the term from Joe Grady, who introduce various metaphors such as, “SIMILARITY IS CLOSENESS”, “PERSISTENCE IS BEING ERECT”. Grady also reviewed various conceptual metaphor, themes and scope developed by Lakoff and Johnson in his early work of studies, proposing that various primary metaphors can be brought together to create compound metaphors such as “PURPOSEFUL LIFE IS A JOURNEY” based on metaphors such as “PURPOSES ARE DESTINATIONS” and “DIFFICULTIES ARE IMPEDIMENTS.” Projecting forward, many conceptual metaphors covering both similar ones and primary metaphor are established on “image schemas”. These schemas are abstract, preconceptual framework that emanates from repetitive instances in the world. Example of these image schemas includes ONTAINER, SOURCE-PATH-GOAL, FORCE, VERTICALITY, and so on. To give further illustration of these metaphors, are STATES ARE CONTAINERS" stems from the CONTAINER 34 Official Publication of the Society of Innovative Academic ResearchersSIAR PUBLICATIONS Advancing Real-Time Innovative Knowledge Globally. Copyright ©SIAR Publications. All rights Reserved. image schema, "LIFE IS A JOURNEY" from the SOURCE-PATH-GOAL schema, "EMOTIONS ARE FORCES" from the FORCE schema, and so on. The studies carried out on primary metaphor have spurred a sense of inquiry into comprehending how metaphors interact with the brain at a neural level. Lakoff (2008) initiated a “neutral metaphor theory”. This neutral theory proposes that individuals neural in the brains forms group referred to as “nodes” with distinctive types of neural circuits joining them together. In the mapping circuits, features of metaphor, there are two pairs of nodes showing the source and target domains, with the circuitry between them communicating to the correspondence or connections. In primary metaphors, one pair of nodes illustrates or sensory or motor experience in the brain, while the other pair indicates abstract or subjective approaches (Haser, 2015). It might interest us to know that the conceptual metaphor theory was establishment within the context of cognitive linguistics, a growing field formed in 1970’s. The conceptual metaphor theory has been simplified into other metaphorical theory by various scholars. Let’s take a look at each of these metaphorical theories: a. Max Black: Max Black initiated his theory of metaphor in two essays: Metaphor (1962) and More about Metaphor (1993). He called his theory an interaction theory. According to Max Black theory, the central message of his theory is to address the question of how to distinguish metaphor from other areas of figurative expression and examine the “misery of metaphor” which derives its roots from absurdity and misconception when analyzed in its literal meaning. Black objected the general conception that metaphor should frequently be eschewed and disputed with the notion that literal language should be easy to comprehend while metaphorical language seems to be stem from traditional language use and organically posing difficulties or challenges. According to Black, metaphors are designed using the rules of a language community, resulting in non-conventional standards straying from conventional syntactic and semantic rules, which is substantial issue for metaphor scholars to explain or comprehend. He went further to state that metaphor development entails rule breaking, although it is welcomed by other fellows of the speech community. Black in his work formulated two concepts of metaphor namely; emphasis and resonance. A metaphor is said to be emphatic when the creator demands for a specific meaning, eschewed variation, for instance changes in focus, as such changes could misdirect the real meaning of the metaphor. On the other hand, a metaphor is said to be resonance when it has a greater degree of implication. Emphasis and resonance interconnect b. John Searle Theory: His theory connects to his Speech Act Theory and it is known as Pragmatic theory by Lycan (2004, 2009). While kick-starting his investigation, the scholar anchored his belief on the concept of linguistic phenomenon, he initiated several questions which he believes are valuable and profound for developing a theory that significantly describes the distinctive nature of conceptual metaphor (Searle, 1993) Searle’s viewpoint about metaphor is that he clearly believes that it is a linguistic metaphor, contradicting it literal meaning physically express their real meaning. While Searle asserts that metaphorical expression can be reformulated into a literal understanding, he welcomes that the rewritten one often go below expectation when capturing the real meaning or impact of the metaphor. At times, it can be very challenging to identify a particular paraphrase word that can fits into the intended meaning of the metaphor. This significant challenge underlines the importance of metaphor, and it also helps in closing the disparity where literal