Metaphors of depression: a comparative study of their impact on perception, opinion and emotions in Spanish as an L1 and as an additional Language
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4151/S0718-09342026012101324Keywords:
metaphor, depression, Spanish, L1, LXAbstract
Conceptual Metaphor Theory (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980) underscores the role of metaphors in understanding and communicating complex experiences, such as depression. In the Spanish-language press, depression is often framed within the metaphorical domains of WAR and SPACE, as identified in the corpus analyzed for this research. This comparative study examines the impact of these two metaphorical domains on (1) emotional responses, (2) perceptions of depression severity, and (3) opinions on recommended strategies for overcoming the illness among native Spanish speakers (L1) and speakers of Spanish as an additional language (LX), both with and without a history of depression. A questionnaire-based quantitative methodology was employed to gather data from 162 participants. The findings indicate that war metaphors evoke stronger emotional responses and a heightened perception of severity among those with a depressive history, while improving the evaluation of recovery strategies among those without such a history. Additionally, spatial metaphors trigger greater emotional intensity and a stronger perception of severity among LX speakers compared to L1 speakers. This study underscores the importance of considering linguistic and cultural factors in depression communication, demonstrating that these factors significantly influence the interpretation of metaphors and, consequently, the perception of the disorder.
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