Conceptualizing education in Hong Kong and China (1984-2014)

Abstract

This study aims to provide an account of metaphor usage in Chinese political rhetoric regarding education over the past thirty years and shed light as to how lexica choices underline and reflect underlying conceptual patterns. Our study shows that the degree of metaphorization of “education” is similar among PRC Premiers while it varies among Hong Kong Governors and Chief Executives. Also, the concept of education in policy addresses in China often relies on the domain of BUILDING, with a focus on ‘structure’ and ‘foundation’ and a secondary focus on the concept of education as ENTERPRISE that can be ‘invested’ in. In contrast, Hong Kong Policy Addresses conceptualize education as a PRODUCT that can be ‘advertised’ or whose ‘quality’ and ‘quantity’ can be ‘improved’. In sum, analyzing metaphor variations in political speeches may reveal how politicians with different backgrounds and from different regions use language to present implicit ideologies.