Abstract
Metaphors are linguistic tools for talking about complex topics. They help people understand and make sense of new phenomena. Traditionally, journalists are the main source of scientific information and news around innovations. Previous studies show that journalists use their own metaphorical terms and frames when conceptualising new technological developments. This paper, based on 107 articles from Dutch newspapers about Artificial Intelligence (AI), identifies three main metaphorical threads in reporting on a technology that has been recognised as a system technology in need of demystification. Research on how Dutch news media write about AI, and their use of metaphors surrounding this technology in Dutch news media is very limited and not focused on a historical perspective. This paper employs Critical Metaphor Analysis to examine the most frequently used words, metaphors and concepts around AI in five Dutch daily newspapers by covering the years 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021. Within this paper’s corpus, AI is being metaphorically described as 1) digital intangible; 2) human and; 3) assistant. These findings identify ways in which Dutch journalists convey certain assumptions and worldviews about AI in their writing through the use of metaphors. Also, from Charteris-Black’s purpose classification, types of metaphors and possible ideological purposes were examined and evaluated. Together, this might help journalists to gain critical insight in their use of metaphors when covering topics as artificial intelligence and add to academical knowledge in which metaphors are discursively employed to inform a general public on technological innovations.
Presenters
Jessy De CookerTeacher & Researcher, Journalism, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Newspapers, Critical Metaphor Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, Dutch Journalism
