The thesis focuses on a complex and thorough study of the types and functions of metaphors in public speeches of modern Turkish politicians. The current study deals with a construction and description of metaphorical models with corresponding frames and slots taking into account the nature of concepts of the correlative domain, interpretation of the meaning of metaphors and identification of their features that reflect mental characteristics of the Turkish people. The dissertation clarifies the notion of the metaphor as a means of reproducing in a language the process of transferring knowledge from one conceptual sphere into another on the basis of association or analogy capable of reflecting the national culture and national mentality.
The research confirms that metaphors being one of the key means of political and ideological influence, have become an integral part of public speeches of modern Turkish politicians, and may be used throughout the speech – in the introduction, the main part, at the end. The method of metaphorical modeling which is applied in the Ukrainian Turkish studies for the first time is an effective way to study metaphorical units identified in the speeches of modern Turkish politicians.
The research constructs ten metaphorical models on the basis of the selected data. The construction of such metaphorical models as SOCIAL and POLITICAL REALITY is the WORLD of RELIGION, SOCIAL and POLITICAL REALITY is a MYTHOLOGICAL WORLD, SOCIAL and POLITICAL REALITY is the WORLD of EPIC HEROES, and SOCIAL and POLITICAL REALITY is the WORLD of FAIRYTALE HEROES is completely unique. The thesis determines that metaphorical models SOCIAL and POLITICAL REALITY is the WORLD of EPIC HEROES and SOCIAL and POLITICAL REALITY is the WORLD of FAIRYTALE HEROES are characterized by a low productivity (plots of Turkish epic literature and fairy tales of the peoples of the world have become source domains for 12 % of metaphors), and have predominantly negative or ironic connotations.
In the speeches of modern Turkish politicians, 39 % of metaphors are based on associations with mythical animals, phenomena and objects of nature, which confirms the importance of mythological ideas of the Turks for the formation of their worldview guidelines. Metaphors of the model SOCIAL and POLITICAL REALITY is a MYTHOLOGICAL WORLD have both negative (symbolize deceit, meanness and evil) and positive (symbolize courage and bravery) connotations.
The dissertation identifies 6 types of social metaphors in speeches of modern Turkish politicians: anthropomorphic, morbial, theatrical, sports, transport, and domestic metaphors.
The thesis determines that modern Turkish politicians often comprehend the surrounding reality through the categories of health and disease, since 45,6 % of metaphorical units are based on comparisons of the phenomena and processes of the surrounding world and political realities with a human’s anatomical and psychological qualities.
Theatrical metaphors have predominantly negative, ironic, and less often neutral connotations in speeches of modern Turkish politicians, symbolizing insincerity, indifference, and deceit.
Metaphors based on associations of socio-political phenomena and processes with objects of the domestic sphere have both positive and negative evaluative modalities, since they can act as means of verbal expression of integrity, influence, restoration.
The study proves that in modern Turkish political communication metaphorical conceptualization of a woman is realized through numerous positive images, since Turkish politicians more often recognize the importance of a woman for society as an integral system and thus, use less negative metaphorical associations.
The analysis of the functional potential of metaphors in the speeches of modern Turkish politicians shows that its role in political communication is not limited to the expressiveness and imagery of the language. The research determines that metaphors in political speeches can perform various functions, among which four main functions and their varieties were identified: cognitive function, voluntative, manipulative (incentive, argumentative functions), and expressive functions.
The theoretical significance of the dissertation is related to the expansion of the basic conceptual provisions for the study of metaphors in political communication, in particular in the texts of Turkish politicians’ speeches. Identifying the peculiarities of the functioning of metaphors in the speeches of Turkish politicians will help to supplement the theoretical foundations for the systematization of lexical and grammatical means characteristic of Turkish political texts. The linguistic and cultural aspect of the dissertation results is a significant contribution to the interdisciplinary sciences, the object of study of which is the mentality, national and individual consciousness of native speakers of certain languages.
