Date: 22 March 2023
Time: 12:00 - 13:00
Venue: Online event (via Zoom)
This Seminar is being organised by the Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology at the University of Malta.
This event will be taking place online via Zoom.
Passcode: 271457
Seminar Title: Functions of Metaphor and Metonymy in Disability Discourse
Speaker: Prof. Adisa Imamović (English Language and Literature Department, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Abstract:
Media representation of persons with disability is significant for building a more inclusive and tolerant society. It can contribute to breaking the barriers and integrating this population into all aspects of societal life. Language is a very important aspect of media representation as it has the power to define the way groups are seen by others, the way they see themselves, and, consequently, the way they act.
The terminology used to refer to persons with disabilities has changed considerably since 1990s, but the situation is far from clear when it comes to what is considered acceptable and what is not in disability discourse. In this talk, we will show the uses of the adjective accessible in disability discourse since it is one of the recommended and accepted terms and has become very frequent in this type of discourse. Assuming a cognitive linguistic perspective, we discuss how metaphor and metonymy operate in order to help the development of a more inclusive, and also more efficient, language of reporting about this population.