Football Is War: a Case Study of Minute-by-minute Football Commentary

: The present investigation deals with the use of war-inspired terminology in live football commentary. As shown by a sample of written minute-by-minute match reports from Euro 2008, there is considerable conceptual transfer between the two domains, showing the validity of the master metaphor FOOTBALL IS WAR. It is argued that such metaphorical mapping combines with a body of intensifying vocabulary to build a war scenario whereby commentators add nerve and pace to their match coverage. This strategy is thought to transform the action on the pitch into something which is easier to understand, viz. physical conflict, thereby addressing consumers on a more basic and emotional level.

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