Comparative Linguistic Research

Comparative Linguistic Research

The “economic surgery” metaphor in the economic discourse of Iran: A cognitive-critical approach

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Maryam Keshvari 1
Arsalan Golfam 2
Faezeh Farazandehpour 3
1 English language and Linguistics Department
2 Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Linguistics, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.22084/rjhll.2026.32078.2420
Abstract
The present study investigates the metaphor of “economic surgery” in Iran’s economic–political discourse. Using the Critical Metaphor Analysis framework (Charteris-Black, 2004) and drawing on data collected from several domestic Persian-language news agencies and newspapers, the research explores how this metaphor is employed by both supporters and critics of Iran’s thirteenth government. The findings show that the “economic surgery” metaphor is grounded in three underlying conceptual metaphors: “The Iranian economy is a patient,” “The poor condition of the Iranian economy is an illness,” and “Economic reform is surgery.” These metaphors collectively reflect the broader conceptual key “The economy is a human being.” The results further indicate that both proponents and opponents of the government strategically deploy the “economic surgery” metaphor to advance their discursive aims.
Keywords
economic discourse analysis
metaphorical conceptualization
Critical Metaphor Analysis
Critical Discourse Analysis
The 13th government of Iran
Subjects