Metaphors about the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thai Political News on the www.thairath.co.th Website

Abstract

This article analyzed conceptual metaphors and examined functions of conceptual metaphor about the Novel Coronavirus 2019 pandemic as printed in 606 Thai political news articles on the website www.thairath.co.th. Results were that six conceptual metaphors existed regarding the Coronavirus 2019 pandemic — fire, toxin, disaster, medical treatment, journey, and war. These reflected the quick spreading nature of the pandemic and the way it affected the entire population. Specialists needed to deal with the pandemic were competent in resolving and controlling maladies as well as persuading citizens to follow disease prevention measures to avoid higher death tolls.  In terms of functions, there were four functions of conceptual metaphor including (1) ideational function, (2) interpersonal function, (3) textual function, and (4) ideational and interpersonal function. Each function was related to communication in presenting the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 to the readers of Thai political news online.