Metaphors, metonymies and empathy in focal groups talk about urban violence in Brazil: a dynamic discourse approach

Abstract

Responses to urban violence in Brazil are investigated through metaphors and metonymies used in focus group discussions. Perceptions of violence are understood in terms of the complex dynamics of social life as people try to cope with the uncertainties brought about by the escalating of acts of violence in their cities. Data come from the talk of participants in two focus groups in the Brazilian cities of Fortaleza and Belo Horizonte. Attention is paid to SOCIAL LANDSCAPE and CONTAINER metaphors through which people express ideas and feelings regarding their personal experiences as victims of violence and show empathy towards their assailants. Among other findings, the analyses allowed us to verify the presence of the INSIDE-OUTSIDE metonymy, in which INSIDE comes to stand for safety, and OUTSIDE for threat and risk, and the SOCIAL LANDSCAPE metaphor in both groups, as participants expressed feelings of security/insecurity.