Framing environmental discourse. Greta Thunberg, metaphors, blah blah blah!

Abstract

This study focuses on the analysis of Greta Thunberg’s speeches, from the early mobilizations of Friday for Future (Thunberg, 2019) to the latest Conference of the Parties in 2022. We explore her use of metaphors, their contribution to the construction of discourse frames and their role in persuasive argumentation. The overall analytical approach is guided by the principles of Positive Discourse Analysis (PDA), and the theoretical and philosophical background of Ecolinguistics. As one of the most significant environmental voices on the current global scene, Thunberg’s underlying ideologies are positively viewed, especially as they are expressed in climate related predictions. The analysis critically and diachronically examines Greta’s linguistic choices, identifying how they contribute to promote a positive perspective that highlights the interconnection between social groups and the natural world. As well as a positive dimension, which recognises the importance of Thunberg’s contribution to modern environmental movements (Bullon-Cassis, 2024), the paper critiques her use of these linguistic resources. It is suggested that at least part of her talismanic impact as a speaker relates to a familiar discourse of generational conflict among young audiences, a dimension which her use of framing is found to target.

Keywords

• Ecolinguistics
• Greta Thunberg
• positive discourse analysis
• framing
• metaphor
• argumentation