INVESTIGATING METAPHOR IN MODERN GREEK INTERNET MEMES:

Abstract

Internet memes are a quite recent web-genre that makes use of metaphorical conceptualizations and humor. This paper draws on data from humorous metaphors in a small corpus of Greek memes posted on Facebook. The analysis suggests that common conventional metaphors underlie memes, such as emotions are forces, human body is a machine, and people are animals; however, several novel conceptualizations arise, fused into conceptual blends: coronavirus is war, low-paid is diseased, natural forces are people. The findings are interpreted in the light of the cognitive theory of metaphor and humor and they are discussed in terms of contextualizing metaphor and developing metaphoric competence or conceptual fluency within discourse-based L2 learning contexts.

Keywords

• conceptual metaphor, conceptual blends, humor, internet memes, second language teaching