Exploring the Functional and Semantic Fields of ‘Heaven’ and ‘Hell’ Conceptual Metaphors in Media News Headlines

Abstract

The research aims to conduct a functional analysis of the opposing conceptual metaphors ‘heaven’ and ‘hell’ within English headlines from BBC and The Guardian news between 1999 and 2023. The relevance of this study lies in the need to explore the lexical meaning of fundamental theological terms based on the unreal cognitive constructs in the context of evolving social paradigms. Various research methods were employed, including continuous sampling, classification, thematic analysis, definition analysis, and semantic analysis.The findings indicate that the conceptual metaphor ‘hell’ possesses a broader semantic field compared to ‘heaven,’ both in terms of definition and function. Metaphorical usage is prevalent, but headlines also feature ‘heaven’ and ‘hell’ within idiomatic, emphatic, allusive, direct, zeugmatic phrases, and contaminations. These metaphors encompass thematic areas with polar connotational meanings:Hell: Politics (political instability, struggle, political figure replacement, anti-crisis measures), Social life (reforms, discrimination, limitations, mandatory expenses), Crimes (abuses, threats, harassment, assaults, victims), Nature (natural disasters, difficult conditions, environmental catastrophes), Sport (injuries, competition, psychological attacks, overcoming), Entertainment (poor quality service, bad habits, imbalance, disruptions), Travel (unforeseen circumstances, transport collapses), Culture (culture shock).Heaven: Politics (political decisions, electoral victories), Social life (festivals, feasts, family relations, relationships between generations), Crimes (controversy resolution, search for solutions), Nature (biodiversity, renewal of nature), Sport (victories, lucrative contracts, goal achievement), Entertainment (parties, bright performances, romanticism), Travel (pleasure, rest, nature), Culture (acquaintance with outstanding cultural objects, visiting cultural events).This research demonstrates that the dichotomous representation of the conceptual metaphors ‘heaven’ and ‘hell’ is marked by polyfunctionality, driven by the universal evaluative component inherent in their meaning, rooted in the implied polarization of the concepts ‘good’ and ‘bad.’ The emotional and moral dimensions contribute to heightened news perception and effective communication within media discourse.

Keywords

• cognitive metaphor
• professional communication
• media discourse
• social values
• polyfunctionality
• thematic field
• connotative meaning