=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-1811/paper5
|storemode=property
|title=Argument by Multimodal Metaphor as Strategic Maneuvering: A Case Study
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1811/paper5.pdf
|volume=Vol-1811
|authors=Cihua Xu,Chuanrui Zhang
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/clar/XuZ16
}}
==Argument by Multimodal Metaphor as Strategic Maneuvering: A Case Study==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1811/paper5.pdf
Argument by Multimodal Metaphor as Strategic
Maneuvering:
A case study
Cihua Xu Chuanrui Zhang
Philosophy Dept. Philosophy Dept.
Hangzhou, ZJ 310000 Hangzhou, ZJ 310000
xuch@zju.edu.cn zhang_cr@zju.edu.cn
Abstract
Argument by multimodal metaphor usually plays a vital role of
persuasion daily. In this paper, we analyse the argumentation of
Lin Dan Commercial (LDC), an anti-corruption advertisement
broadcasted on China Central Television, with conceptual
metaphor theory and multimodal metaphor, in order to carry out
an evaluation of the reasonableness and effectiveness of the
argument. On practice, this research aims to ascertain how to make
a full use of the argument by multimodal metaphor for a
reasonable and effective publication of anti-corruption. The
research finds out, based on a conceptual metaphor WORK IS A
MATCH, LDC constructs an argument by multimodal metaphor
Copyright © by the paper’s authors. Copying permitted for private and academic purposes.
In: Thomas Ågotnes, Beishui Liao & Yì N. Wáng (eds.): Proceedings of The First Chinese Conference on Logic and
Argumentation (CLAR 2016), Hangzhou, P. R. China, 02-03 April 2016, published athttp://ceur-ws.org
38
which is adopted as a strategic manoeuvring at each stage of a
critical discussion. It fully utilizes the sense of identity of
conceptual metaphor on the basis of reasonableness. In the
meanwhile, however, there is a shortcoming in the advertisement
because of the mistaken use of a concept “hold the backcourt
boundary”.
1 Introduction
In past twenty years Chinese internet industry has been keeping rapid development. The net
has been much more popular and played abundant types of roles daily. Online video has been
one of the most important ways of amusement. According to the report of CNNIC, online
video has been the fourth significant Internet business besides three traditional businesses:
instant communication, searching engine and news. Chinese Internet user of video has grown
40.0%
33.8%
35.0%
30.0%
25.0% 21.7%
20.0%
15.1%
15.0% 13.3%
11.4% 10.5%
10.0% 6.5%
5.0% 0.8%
0.0%
to 500million, increasing by 16.4% of 2014. This amount covers 73.2% of all Internet users
(2016, p. 24). Such a large group of users also offers a big market for commercial (See Figure
1).
39
Figure 1: Enterprise marketing & advertising channels 2015 (CNNIC,2016, p. 25)
By December, 2015, Internet has been enterprises’ top choice for marking, taking about 33.8%
of the whole. Advertisement is a typical argumentative discourse. Online video advertisement,
facing numerous Internet users, takes the advantages of visual mode, acoustic mode and
verbal mode to achieve the argumentative target. Multimodal metaphor is usually adopted as
an argument in video advertisement. It, however, is distinct from verbal metaphor because of
its unique argumentative function. Advertisement for Public Interest (API) is distinct from
traditional commercial advertisement because the API in China aims to serve actions or
businesses for public so as to publicize positive morality, behaviors, thoughts, ideas, etc. It is
of much societal values. API has been widely used for convey government position, addresses
social-psychological problem, resolve conflict, etc. Hence, it is significant to investigate how
to realize a reasonable and effective argumentation with multimodal metaphor in API so as to
conduct public values.
In this paper, the section 2 reviews the multimodal argumentation and conceptual metaphor
theory as well as relevant Chinese studies on advertisement. The section 3 introduces the
standard theory and strategic maneuvering (the extended theory) of Pragma-Dialectics, the
argumentation theory used in this research. The synopsis of LDC is in section 4. First, we
analyze the multimodal metaphors in this advertisement (section 5), which lays the foundation
of a further Pragma-Dialectical analysis and evaluation of multimodal metaphor as an
argument (section 6). The last part is the conclusion.
2 Multimodal Argumentation and Advertisement Studies
In this section, the study briefly reviews researches on multimodal argumentation and
advertisement studies
2.1 Multimodal Argumentation
At the beginning, multimodal argumentation is constructed on the basis of visual
40
argumentation. Usually it is acknowledged that visual argumentation may stem from the
middle of 1990s, symbolized by Leo Groarke’s paper “Logic, art and argument” published on
Informal Logic. In the past 20 years, scholar had fierce discussions on several issues, including
legality of argumentativity of picture (cf. Blair, 1996, 2004; Nettel & Roque, 2012; etc.) and
how reconstruct a visual argumentation (Feteris, Groarke, & Plug, 2011; Feteris, 2013 Plug,
2013; etc.). Finally, it is confirmed picture also could be a special argumentative discourse
(Kjeldsen, 2015) ① . Moreover, Argumentation, the most influential journal in the field of
argumentation studies, published a special issue on visual argumentation in 2009. ② Certainly,
there are scholars at the opposite viewpoint of multimodal argumentation arguing meaning in
picture, sound or gestures are too vague to decide it into an clear accurate proposition; they
neglect an essential factor, however, ‘Pictures are ambiguous, but rhetorical figures can help
delimit the possible interpretations, thus evoking the intended arguments.’ (Kjeldsen, 2015, p.
240)
Currently multimodal argumentation studies mainly focus on static political cartoons or
picture advertisements (e.g. Feteris, 2013; Feteris et al., 2011; Leiss, Kline, Jhally, & Botterill,
2005; Pollay, 1985; van Gisbergen, Ketelaar, & Beentjes, 2004). Multi-media and Internet
have been a vital direction and in China video advertisement that deserve more academic
attention is takin a higher proportion. When shooting an advertisement, the director would use
‘visual rhetorical figures in advertising – meaning both tropes and figures – are not only
ornamental, but also support the creation of arguments about product and brand’ (Kjeldsen,
2012, p. 239). In the process metaphor is of much ubiquitous. Metaphorical expressions are
typical tropes used in multimodal argumentation and so is the LDC analyzed in this paper.
Consequently, the metaphor used in multimodal argumentative discourse leads the unclear
①
At the moment, visual (/pictorial) argumentation is the main type of multimodal
argumentation. Hence they could be a substitute for each other.
②
See Argumentation (29:2) for more details.
41
argument chain into a vaguer and more complex situation. As a result, we should conduct a
multimodal metaphorical analysis clarify the intertwined relations between metaphorical
expression and non-metaphorical ones before an accurate Pragma-Dialectical study.
2.2 Conceptual Metaphor and Multimodal Metaphor
From the perspective of rhetoric, metaphor is nothing but a figure of speech, especially in
literature. But in past three decades, studies of cognitive linguists like Lakoff and Johnson
deeply changed the understanding of a metaphor: Metaphor is not only a figure of speech but
also a basic cognitive mechanism affecting the human’s construction of conceptual system
and corresponding behaviours (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980, 1999). Lakoff & Johnson further
argues ‘metaphor is a primarily matter of thought ad action and only derivatively a matter of
language.’ (1980, p. 153) It assist the brain with familiar, known and concrete concepts to
understand strange, unknown and abstract things, for instance:
‘Is that the FOUNDATION for your theory?
The theory needs more SUPPORT.
The argument is SHAKY.
We need some more facts or the argument will FALL APART.
We need to CONSTRUCT strong argument for that.
I haven't figured out yet what the FORM OF THE ARGUMENT will be.
Here are some MORE FACTS
to SHORE UP the theory.
We need to BUTTRESS the theory with SOLID arguments.’ (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980, p. 46)
All these expressions share one conceptual metaphor between the lines THEORIES (AND
ARGUMENTS) ARE BUILDINGS. The abstract academic expression THEORY is understood
42
through the concrete daily concept BUILDING. Likewise, there also are expressions ‘All this
paper has in it are raw facts, half-baked ideas, and harmed-over theories (IDEAS ARE FOOD)’,
‘Those ideas died off in the Middle Ages (ideas are people)’, ‘It looks different from my point
of view (UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING)’, ‘They have a. strong, healthy marriage. ( LOVE IS A
PATIENT)’, ‘He’s a big man in the garment industry. (SIGNIFICANT IS BIG)’, etc. (Lakoff &
Johnson, 1980, pp. 47-51). As Lakoff points out, the meaning of metaphor is also different
that it refers to a ‘a cross-domain mapping in the conceptual system’ (1993, p. 30).
Hence, the usage would not be limited within only one communication symbol such verbal
language, but also in sound, picture, colour, lines spaces and other modes to construct and
express concepts (Forceville, 1994, 2006, 2008, 2009). The so-called multimodal metaphor
refers to a metaphor whose ‘target and source are each represented exclusively or
predominantly in different modes’ (Forceville, 2009, p. 4). “Mode(al)” means the symbol
system that could be interpreted, including a) pictorial/visual mode; b) sound/acoustic mode;
c) olfactory mode; d) taste mode; e) touching mode, etc. Different modes set a gap between
each other but with the assistance of conceptual metaphor could bridge it because what we
are looking for in the expression of different modes is not ‘a thing but rather a concept people
use, a perspective they take’ (Brockriede, 1992, pp. 73-78).
3 Pragma-Dialectics
Pragma-Dialectics is one of three main approaches to multimodal argumentation studies (The
other two are informal logic and rhetoric, Kjeldsen, 2015). It is different from many other
argumentation theories because it emphasizes the importance of context in argumentation. In
Pragma-Dialectics, argumentation is a social rational communication where all moves are
implicit speech acts aimed to address the difference of opinion (van Eemeren, 2010; van
Eemeren & Grootendorst, 1984). Hence it is appropriate to use Pragma-Dialectics as basic
theory for multimodal argumentation in advertisement.
43
3.1 The standard theory of Pragma-Dialectics
In 1970s, Dutch scholars Frans H. van Eemeren, Rob Grootendorst, etc. propounded
Pragma-Dialectics, arguing ‘Argumentation is a communicative and interactional (speech) act
complex aimed at resolving a difference of opinion before a reasonable judge by advancing a
constellation of reasons the arguer can be held accountable for as justifying the acceptability
of the standpoint(s) at issue.’ (van Eemeren, 2010, p. 29) In such a ration communication,
each participant should be a rational as well. The whole text consists of argumentative moves.
But actually, the meaning and logic in natural language often is ambiguous. Sometimes there
are redundant or irrelevant discourse even irrational behaviors such as abuse, hitting. We thus
must reconstruct the natural argumentative discourse into an analytical overview before
evaluation (van Eemeren & Grootendorst, 2004, p. 95). The method for reconstruction
includes four steps: a) deleting the content that is irrelevant to resolving the difference of
opinion; b) permuting the argumentative moves to make it concise and clear; c) adding the
unexpressed, implicit or omitted information; d) substituting the unclear or ambiguous
expressions with clear accurate ones. The four steps are a cycled process until the
reconstruction is completed (van Eemeren, 2010, p. 15). The idea model for critical discussion
for an argumentation contains four stages: At the confrontation stage both parties should
confirm the difference of opinion at issue. At the opening stage the protagonist and antagonist
would be identified and they reach an agreement on the procedural premise and material
premise as the starting points. The protagonist offers implicit or explicit arguments to prove
the his/her standpoint should be accepted whereas the antagonist could doubt or refuse the
protagonist’s standpoint. Concluding stage is about the result of critical discussion: whether
the difference of opinion has been resolves or not (van Eemeren, 2010, p. 12; van Eemeren,
Grootendorst, & Henkemans, 2002, p. 25). In critical discussion of argumentation, the
difference of opinion, the standpoints of both parties, starting points, argumentative structure,
argument scheme and result form the analytical overview together (van Eemeren &
Grootendorst, 2004, p. 118). And then the reconstructed discourse would be test with ten rules
44
for critical discussion (van Eemeren et al., 2002, pp. 182-186). If any a move violates the rule,
the discourse would slip to fallacy. The is a guidance for argumentative analysis. ‘[T]he model
can be seen to serve as a blueprint of argumentative conduct, providing the criteria for a
reasonable discussion on the merits…to describe argumentative reality, using it as a grid of
measurement.’ (Labrie, 2012, p. 176)
3.2 Strategic Maneuvering: The Extend Theory
The standard theory of Pragma-Dialectics attaches attention on the issue of reasonableness in
evaluation; however, the daily argumentation should be not only reasonable but also effective
in persuasion so that the protagonist could convince the audience accept the standpoint. Give
that Frans H. van Eemeren and Peter Houtlosser tried to introduce the rhetorical aspect to
dialectics and put forward “strategic maneuvering”. “Strategic maneuvering” refers to ‘the
continual efforts made in all moves that are carried out in argumentative discourse to keep the
balance between reasonableness and effectiveness’ (van Eemeren, 2010, p. 40). Along with
classical rhetoric, strategic maneuvering concerns three aspects: first, “topical potential”
concerns the selection of topic or perspective at different stages; second, “audience demand”
refers to requirements pertinent to the audience’s viewpoint or preference; “presentation
device”, the third aspect, considers the syntax, vocabulary or rhetorical devices used in
argumentation (van Eemeren, 2010, pp. 93-94). All strategic maneuvering would take
simultaneous choices of the three but it may attach more attention on one or two aspects.
As we state above, Pragma-Dialectics put much emphasis on specific commutation activity
types and the function of correspondent context in augmentation analysis. van Eemeren points
out, ‘[T] the structure of argumentation is all adapted to a context in which doubts, opposition,
objections, and counterclaims arise’ (van Eemeren, 2010, p. 1). According to Pragma-
Dialectics, the marco-context of a given activity type provides an institutional precondition
restraining or limiting all strategic maneuvering. In the meanwhile, context also give an
essential source and standard for argumentative reconstruction and evaluation. Pictures could
45
not tell readers how they are connected or how they form an argument because of the feather
of themselves but from the perspective of Pragma-Dialectics this problem could be addressed
effectively. Currently, some studies have discussed the identification of argumentation,
reconstruction, etc., for instance, Feteris et al. studies political cartoon with the framework of
Pragma-Dialectics and confirms picture is a way to protect a standpoint (2011, p. 60).
The recognition and understanding of words, pictures and sound by people is decoding
information in various modes. As a result, researchers cannot figure out a standpoint,
arguments supporting it and inner-connections easily. Moreover, metaphor in a multimodal
discourse cause it to be more complex. Fortunately, conceptual metaphor analysis could be a
useful bridge in the process. But metaphor in argumentation has not received due attention
and few studies introduced the results of cognitive science (especially linguistics) in to
modern argumentation theories (Santibáñez, 2010, p. 975). Though few scholars paid
attention on the issue of metaphor in argumentative discourse (e.g. Santibáñez, 2010; Xu &
Wu, 2014), multimodal argumentation deserves more discussions from visual argumentation
and conceptual metaphor theory. In this paper, we ascertain the paradigm of analysis and
evaluation of video argumentation within Pragma-Dialectics. Conceptual metaphor theory is
introduced into the study for pre-analysis. A Chinese advertisement for public interest, Lin
Dan Commercial, is taken as example for case study to investigate strategic maneuvering in
Chinese institutional context.
4 Research Material
This research takes Lin Dan Commercial as example to illustrate the Pragma-Dialectical
analysis with conceptual metaphor theory in the activity type of video advertisement. Lin Dan
Commercial won the Price of Excellence in 2013 CCTV Competition of Advertisement for
Public Interest. This advertisement was broadcasted on both of TV and Internet
simultaneously and voted by audience. The advertisement got many praise once it was
published The detailed information is listed in the table as follows:
46
Table 1 Information about Lin Dan Commercial
Title Lin Dan Commercial
Duration(second) 60
Actor Lin Dan
Actor’s Identity Famous Badminton Player
Producer Bei Jing Shang Zao Pictures Co., Ltd
The video is downloaded from the website of China Central Television (CCTV) ③. From the
video and given information, we could find out the actor is Lin Dan a very famous player in
China and badminton champion in the world. News about the advertisement indicates its topic
is anit-corruption. In the video, there are two scenes: one is on a badminton field, including
visual and gestural metaphors; the other is voice and close shots on Lin Dan, containing verbal
metaphors. Two scenes in the video switch frequently. The following is a brief description
about Lin Dan Commercial (See more details in transcription in the appendix):
At beginning of the advertisement, the court lights come on and the whole badminton court
becomes bright and clear gradually (Figure L1-l2. Lin Dan’ voiceover: “Every athlete
encountered with numerous opponents.”). A vague figure in sports suit appears on the court,
holding a bat (Figure L3. Lin Dan’ voiceover: “They have experienced victories and failures.”).
The screenshot becomes clear enough that the spectator can find out he is Lin Dan who staring
at the backcourt boundary of the opponent’s court through the mid-court line (Figure L4. Lin
Dan’ voiceover: “For us, when hitting the shuttlecock, we must keep our eyes on the
backcourt”). The camera follows Lin’s eye to the side line and backcourt boundary of the
other side (Figure L5-7). Lin Dan starts to hit (Figure L8) and the shuttlecock falls within the
boundary (Figure L9. Lin Dan’ voiceover: “Every point is really important. Hence every
stroke must be kept in within the lines.”). Lin Dan jumps high and hit again (Figure L10-13).
All shuttles fall within the backcourt boundaries (Figure L14). The camera slowly moves to
③
The address of Lindan Commercial: http://www.cctvgygg.com/zuopin.
47
the backcourt boundary (Figure L15-17. Lin Dan’ voiceover: “Only right judgment and
holding the backcourt boundary can bring about victory”). In the meanwhile, the camera
switches to Lin Dan. In lights Lin Dan says, “On the court of life, we also should eye on the
backcourt boundary” (Figure L17-18). And the back of a player in red occur in the screenshot.
He jumps to kill but the shuttle flies out of the boundary but other strokes succeed (Figure
L19-23. Lin Dan’ voiceover: “If the shuttle goes out, we still can get the point back”). Lin
comes into the screenshot and continues, “No matter being a human or doing your job, we
cannot go beyond the backcourt boundary. Otherwise what you lose can never be made up.”
(Figure L24) In the screen, a slogan in red is shown: “Your life cannot go beyond the boundary;
the backcourt boundary must be held” (Figure L25).
5 Analyzing Multimodal Metaphor in LDC
The multimodal metaphor in advertisement is a visualized conceptual metaphor. Pictures,
sounds and voiceovers used in LDC show that the whole of the advertisement is designed on
the basis of conceptual metaphor. At the end of LDC, Lin Dan uses a metaphorical expression
“Your life cannot go beyond the boundary; the backcourt boundary must be held.” The
metaphorical fragments complicate the identification and analysis of propositions in a
multimodal argumentation. Thus it is necessary to conduct an analysis within the conceptual
metaphor theory as a “bridge” between argumentation and multimodal expressions, in order
to reveal the function a multimodal metaphor plays in argumentation.
From the perspective of content, LDC could be divided into three parts:
Table 2: Three parts of LDC
Time (second) Concept involved
L1-L19 0-26 Badminton
L20-L26 27-50 Life & Badminton
L27-L28 50-60 Conclusion
The first on the badminton court is to explicate the shuttle cannot fly beyond the backcourt
48
boundary. This explication uses a concept “backcourt boundary” as a metonymy to activate
the conceptual metaphor LIFE IS BADMINTON. The boundary between the first part the second
is Lin’s another metaphorical voiceover, “On the court of life, we also should eye on the
backcourt boundary”. It further points out the source domain is BADMINTON and the target
DOMAIN is life. The second party indicate the result brought about by “the shuttlecock beyond
the backcourt boundary”. The third part draws a conclusion.
According to conceptual metaphor theory, LIFE IS BADMINTON is a process to understand
abstract LIFE with assistance of BADMINTON. Two decades ago Kress and van Leeuwen
pointed out ‘particular modes of communication should be seen in their environment, in the
environment of all the other modes of communication which surround them, and of their
functions’ (1996, p. 33). We have noticed LDC is an anti-corruption advertisement for the
public, aiming to show the importance of incorruptibility. The target could be limited into
CAREER from LIFE, viz. CAREER IS A MATCH. The mappings are shown as follows:
LIMITS OF
COURT
POWER
PLAYER STAFF
OFFICERS
REFREE DISCIPLINARY
INSPECTION
MATCH DOING CAREER
HITTING
BUSINESS
SIDE LINE RULES &
(BOUNDARY) LAWS
SHUTTLECOCK POWER
RESULT OF RESULT OF
MATCH BUSINESS
Figure 2 mappings in CAREER IS A MATCH
So how does the advertisement represent the conceptual metaphor through multimodal
approach? The advertisement starts with a screenshot on an empty court and then Lin Dan,
49
the man of symbol comes into the shot, pointing out every athlete encountered with numerous
opponents and experienced victories and failures (L1-2). The concrete badminton court
becomes the limit of business in career. Hence,
Figure 3: RANGE OF POWER IS SIZE OF COURT
A larger size of court means more power an official owns and smaller, less. In the
advertisement the range of power of a working staff is represented through a countable size
of an area. ④ Cognitive linguists argue the mind of human is embodies. It grows from
experience in life from body, physical and culture environment (Gibbs, 1994; Gibbs, 2006;
Lakoff, 1993; Lakoff & Johnson, 1999). We, thus, could decompose a conceptual metaphor
into two subtypes: complex metaphor and primary metaphor. Primary metaphor is from
experiential correlations, or “conflations in everyday experience” that “pair subjective
experience and judgment with sensorimotor experience” (Lakoff & Johnson, 1999, p. 49).
Distinctively, complex metaphors are combinations of primary metaphors and cultural beliefs
and assumptions and, for that reason, tend to be culture-specific. In this case, the complex
metaphor is based on two primary ones: BIG IS GOOD and SMALL IS BAD. Initially, BIG and
④
Though rule and laws regulate the range of power and rights of working staffs, they are
relatively vague and abstract, especially compared with badminton rules.
50
SMALL refer to two opposite directions. In current context, BIG is better than SMALL indeed.
Once these two notions are discussed, there should be a limitation on the size because it cannot
be big or small unlimitedly. As a result, the relation between SIZE OF COURT and RANGE OF
POWER would activate another pair of correlation between the BOUNDARY that is represented
by the BACKCOURT BOUNDARY in the advertisement and RULES AND LAWS. In the case, Lin
Dan argues “For us, when hitting the shuttlecock, we must keep our eyes on the backcourt”
(L4-6). At the same time, the camera moves to the side lines and backcourt boundary (L7-9).
Seven groups of similar close shots are adopted in the second part (L23-26).
IN IS GOOD
BEYOND THE
LEGAL
BOUNDARY
BACKCOURT RULES AND LAWS
BOUNDARY
WITHIN THE
ILLEGAL
BOUNDARY
OUT IS BAD
Figure 4: RULES AND LAWS IS BACKCOURT BOUNDARY
The backcourt boundary one type of lines printed on the court, referring to the boundaries at
two ends of the field of football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, badminton, etc. If the ball or
shuttlecock flies beyond the boundary, the opposite would score one. From the perspective of
audience, the groups of shots are based these primary metaphors OUT IS BAD and IN IS GOOD.
In the meanwhile, Lin Dan also requires all athlete should “focus on the backcourt boundary”.
In L6 the audience attention goes through the middle net and fall on Lin’s eyes that staring on
the front. The following plot indicates he is stare on the backcourt boundary of the other side.
Information from visual verbal mode contains a conceptual metaphor:
51
LONG TIME CAREFULLY
LONG (LENGTH) IS GOOD
SEE FOR A OBEY
LONG TIME STRICTLY
UNDERSTAND IS SEE SEE OBEY
SEE FOR A OBEY
SHORT TIME LOOSELY
SHORT (LENGTH) IS BAD
SHORT TIME CARELESSLY
.
Figure 5 OBEYING IS SEEING
Three primary metaphors function as basis here: UNDERSTAND IS SEE, LONG (LENGTH) IS GOOD
and SHORT (LENGTH) IS BAD. We often use “see” to expression the concept of understanding.
If the cognitive subject sees relevant concepts such as lines of the badminton court he/she
would catch the meaning. And length of seeing represents his/her attitude. Working staffs
should keep sharp mind like athletes and be aware where backcourt boundary is. The result
of match is another important concept involved in CAREER IS A MATCH. The screenshot of L10
emphasis “every point is important” and the case uses a series of shots to describe the
endeavor for success. For instance, the player dashes for killing (L10-11), jumps for strong
hitting (L13-16, L25), etc.
52
1. STRONG IS
FAST
FAST
HIGH FREE
2. STRONG IS
HIGH
MORE FORCE MORE
IN HITTING POWER USED
IN WORKING
HITTING DOING BUSINESS
LESS POWER
LESS FORCE
USED IN
IN HITTING
WORKING
3. WEAK IS LOW
LOW LIMITED
4. WEAK IS SLOW SLOW
Figure 6: DOING BUSINESS IS HITTING
The primary metaphors for this complex metaphor is from the cognition of altitude and speed.
In a match the quality of stroke also affects the result. L22-23 in the case show the conceptual
metaphor THE RESULT IN WORKING IS RESULT OF MATCH is adopted.
VICTORY IN A MATCH SUCCESS IN WORK
RESULT OF RESULT OF WORK
MATCH
FAILURE IN A MATCH FAILURE IN WORK
Figure 7: THE RESULT IN WORKING IS RESULT OF MATCH
Through analyzing the conceptual structures of multimodal metaphors, this research clarifies
the mappings beneath multimodal arguments and embodied supports for these propositions.
Theses, however, is the first step for a critical discussion of multimodal arguments and in the
next section, a Pragma-Dialectical based on previous analysis would be conducted
53
6 Analyzing LDC from Pragma-Dialectics
This section is to analyze the reasonableness and how multimodal metaphors function as a
strategic maneuvering to enhance the effectiveness of LDC
6.1 Analytical Overview of LDC
The aforementioned introduction to Pragma-Dialectics has shown the four stages of an
argumentative discourse after reconstruction.
Confrontation stage We figure out the difference of opinion the advertisement would like to
resolve is not about badminton or life, the superficial ones but “whether an official can execute
his/her power beyond limitation.” Besides, an advertisement for public interest aims to serve
the public for right social values so the target audience would not be the corrupted officials
but common people and some officials who may be corrupted. They usually doubt the
protagonist’s standpoint at issue. Hence the difference of opinion is a single non-mixed one.⑤
Opening stage In the argumentation, the protagonist contains discipline inspection officials
and Lin Dan. Their standpoint is that “all officials cannot execute their power beyond
limitation”. The antagonist includes people who doubt the protagonist’s standpoint. Actually,
the difference of opinion at issues is a simple value judgment but the key is how convince the
audience effectively on the basis of reasonableness. The procedural starting points are rule for
advertisement in broadcasting and the material starting points mainly concerns rules of
badminton and the identity of Lin Dan.
Argumentation stage On the aforesaid conceptual metaphorical analysis, we reconstructed
LDC as follows:
⑤
The amount of propositions in a difference of opinion at issues (one or more) and the attitude
of the antagonist lead to four distinct types of differences of opinion: single non-mixed,
single mixed, multiple non-mixed and multiple mixed difference of opinion (van Eemeren
et al., 2002, pp. 8-9).
54
1. (All officials cannot execute their power beyond limitation.)⑥
1.1a People should obey laws when working
1.1a.1a Lin Dan askes the audience to obey laws when they are playing badminton.
1.1a.1a.1a Lin Dan is renowned badminton player.
1.1a.1a.1b (The badminton knowledge of a world champion of badminton
is correct.)
1.1a.1b (Rules of badminton regulate the shuttlecock cannot fly out of side lines.)
1.1a.1c career is a match.
1.1a.1c.1a RANGE OF POWER IS SIZE OF COURT.
1.1a.1c.1a.1 big is good; small is bad.
1.1a.1c.1b backcourt boundary is rules and laws.
1.1a.1c.1b.1 in is good; out is bad.
1.1a.1c.1c see is obey.
1.1a.1c.1c.1a see is understand.
1.1a.1c.1c.1b carefully is long time is; carelessly is short time.
1.1a.1c.1d doing business is hitting the shuttlecock.
1.1a.1c.1d.1a strong is fast; weak is slow.
1.1a.1c.1d.1b strong is high; weak is low.
1.1a.1c.1e result of work is result of match
⑥
A proposition in parentheses () means this is an expressed proposition and is added by the
analyst.
55
1.1a.1c.1e.1a success in work is victory in match
1.1a.1c.1e.1b failure in work is loss in match
1.1b Power beyond limitation should be forbidden, even if just once.
1.1b.1a If you lose one point in badminton, you could get it back later.
1.1b.1b Any one mistakes about the execution of power in work cannot be made up.
Figure 8: Argumentation reconstruction
The context and metaphor analysis points out the implicit standpoint is “All officials cannot
execute their power beyond limitation.” Lin Dan gives two arguments, 1.1a and 1.1b
supporting the standpoint. 1.1a contains three sub-arguments: a) an argument from authority
embedded in the multimodal metaphor argument; b) rules of badminton which is regarded as
a widely acknowledged unexpressed premise; c) a multimodal argument based on conceptual
metaphor CAREER IS A MATCH. In the complex metaphors (1.1a.1c.1a-1e) supporting 1.1a.1c,
primary metaphors play a role of bridge connecting the basic cognitive domains, such as
“rules and laws--IN IS GOOD and OUT IS BAD—backcourt boundary”. It forms a series of sub-
propositions supporting the upper. The second main sub-argument is 1.1b. Different from 1.1a,
1.1b gives a further requirement that power beyond limitation should be forbidden, even if
56
just once. The difference between career and match puts a further emphasis on the importance
of “limitation” in working.
Concluding stage At the end of the advertisement, a slogan in red occurs in the middle of
screen that make a comparison between (career) life and badminton again, “Your life cannot
goes beyond the boundary; the backcourt boundary must be held.” From the perspective of
the protagonist, the information shown indicates the difference of opinion has been resolved.
6.2 Critical Discussion of LDC
On the basis of argumentative reconstruction, we give an evaluation on the argument scheme
and the strategy of appeal to authority used in LDC.
6.2.1 Argument Scheme of Multimodal Argument
Multimodal argument is constructed on the basis of conceptual metaphor. Correspondingly,
the argument scheme of the multimodal argument is an analogical scheme. In Pragma-
Dialectics, the scheme of analogy, one of three argument schemes, refers to that ‘a standpoint
is defended by showing that something referred to in the standpoint is similar to something
that is cited in the argumentation, and that on the grounds of this resemblance the standpoint
should be accepted’ (van Eemeren et al., 2002, p. 99). The so-called similarity in the definition
could be a resemblance, an agreement, likeness, a parallel, a correspondence (van Eemeren &
Grootendorst, 1992; van Eemeren, Grootendorst, & Henkemans, 2007). The structure of
analogical scheme shown as follows:
Y is true of X,
Because: Y is true of Z, (Premise 1)
And: Z is comparable to X. (Premise 2)
In the structure, what premise 1 “Y is true of Z” concerns is a judgment of fact. It is decided
by the cognitive background of the participant of the argumentation so this premise would not
57
be taken into consideration in reasoning. The key point to the argument lies in premise 2 that
is about the similarity between tow analogues. Walton also points out the similarities between
analogues are the decisive factor to the reasonableness of an analogy (D. N. Walton, 2006;
Walton, 2010; Walton, Reed, & Macagno, 2008).
The aforementioned analysis has proved the argumentation in LDC is on the basis of CAREER
IS A MATCH. But different from literal analogy, two concepts involved in a conceptual
metaphor is from different cognitive domains, forming a cross-domain mapping. Hence we
should not only seek for the number of analogues between these two in evaluation, but also
for an abstract similarity (van Eemeren et al., 2002, p. 100). For instance, complex metaphors
(1.1a.1c.1a to 1.1a.1c.1e) supports career is a match and these complex metaphors are backed
by primary metaphors from daily experience. In the give cultural environment, the cognitive
subject combines two distinct concepts together. It is acknowledged conceptual metaphor is
culture-dependent. In the institution context of current China and the micro-context of career
and badminton, BIG IS GOOD, STRONG IS FAST, etc. are reasonable. We thus can give a positive
answer to the critical question: Because of current contexts and difference of opinion at issue
there is no significant difference between CAREER (Z) and BADMINTON (X).
6.2.2 Strategy of Appeal to Authority
In LDC, argumentum ad verecundiam, or appeal to authority we use daily, is embed in the
multimodal argument. Studies on argumentum ad verecundiam has a long history. In modern
argumentation theories, it is defined as that a standpoint should be accepted because an expert
(authority) also agree with it (D. Walton, 2006; van Eemeren et al., 2002; Walton, 1997). Van
Eemeren and Walton gives different schemes about this argument from different perspective.
Walton’s scheme consists of four propositions: Source Premise, Assertion Premise, Warrant
Premise and conclusion as well as six critical questions (Walton, 2006). In Pragma-Dialectics,
Appeal to authority is a subtype of symptomatic scheme. Wagesmans gives the scheme of
Appeal to authority, according to the symptomatic one (2011, p. 335):
58
1 Opinion O (X) is true or acceptable (Y).
1.1 Opinion O (X) is asserted by expert E (Z).
1.1’ Being asserted by expert E (=Z) is an indication of being true or
acceptable (=Y).
There is only one critical question in the scheme: Could the proposition asserted by Expert E
be true of acceptable?
Wagesmans argues, however, the scheme given by Walton is not systematic enough whereas
the Pragma-Dialectical on is too general (2011, p. 335). Hence Wagesmans made a revision:
1. STP
1.1 ARG
1.1.1 ARG
1.1.1’ ATP (1.1.1→1.1)
1.1’ ATP (1.1→1）
1.1’.1 ARG
1.1’.1 ATP (1.1’1→1.1’)
In LDC, the scheme is:
1. STP: Your life cannot goes beyond the boundary; the backcourt
boundary must be held.
1.1 Standpoint O is asserted by Expert Lin Dan
1.1.1a Lin Dan is an expert in the field of badminton
1.1.1b The case shows Lin Dan adheres to the standpoint indeed.
1.1’ Accepting the standpoint asserted by Lin Dan is acceptable
59
1.1’1a Lin Dan is personally reliable.
1.1’1b Lin Dan is able to provide further evidence for the standpoint.
(Multimodal argument)
1.1’1c The standpoint is consistent with what other (types of) experts’
assertions.
In the scheme 1.1.1a answers the Expertise Question of critical questions given by Walton;
1.1.b to the Opinion Question. And 1.1’1a, 1.1’1b and 1.1’1c form the ATP (Acceptability
Transfer Principle) and answer the Trustworthiness Question, Backup Evidence Question and
Consistency Question (See Walton (2006) for details on critical questions). In the meanwhile,
grouped with multimodal argument, the strategy of appeal to authority also makes a
complement to each other.
7 Conclusion
With the assistance of conceptual metaphor theory and multimodal metaphor, this paper
conducts an argumentative analysis of a Chinese advertisement for the public within the
framework of Pragma-Dialectics, in order to figure out a paradigm for the analysis of
metaphorical argumentation in video. The research argues arguments in video advertisement
are always implicit and unclear because of multi modes and metaphors involved. Hence,
researchers should analyze the conceptual metaphors in target argumentation first and then
Pragma-Dialectics could reconstruct the argumentation better. In this paper, argumentation in
the case of LDC is reasonable. It mainly uses the scheme of analogy and appeal to authority
together.
The case investigated in this study is a video advertisement for the public interest that is
different from commercial advertisement still. The standpoint in such an advertisement is
usually a widely acknowledged value judgment, rules or morality. The argumentation in a
commercial advertisement which aim at profits need more discussions still.
60
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Appendix: Transcription of the Video Advertisement
Num. Screenshot: Badmiton Court & Lin Subtitles Plot
Dan
L1 Court lights come
on.
L2
Every athlete Lights become
encountered stronger. Voice-
with numerous over and
opponents. (每 corresponding
一个运动员， subtitles occur.
都面对过无数
的对手。)
L3 They have (SHOT
experienced SWITCH) The
victories and camera focuses
failures. (都 经 on an indistinct
历过胜利与失 figure in the light,
败。) holding a
badminton racket
and speaking.
The spectator
may figure out
the athlete is Lin
Dan.
64
L4 For us, (对我们 Camera focuses
来说，) on Lin Dan
L5 每打出一个球
(When hitting
the shuttle (每
打出一个球)，
L6 we must keep Lin is in on side
our eyes on the of court and in a
backcourt gesture showing
boundary (眼睛 he is preparing
始终要盯着底 for the
线。). opponent’s
stroke.。
L7 (SHOT
SWITCH) The
screenshot move
along with Lin’s
perspective to the
opponent’s
boundaries.
65
L8
L9
L10 Every point is Voiceover occurs.
really (SHOT
important. (每 SWITCH:
一分都至关重 through the
要。) opponent’s
perspective) Lin
Dan is to hit.
L11 (SHOT
SWITCH) Lin’s
stroke
66
L12 Hence every
stroke must be
kept in within
the lines.
L13 Lin Dan jumps
for hitting
L14
L15
67
L16
L17 (SHOT SWITCH
/CLOSE SHOT)
the badminton
falls in at the
corner of
backcourt
boundary and
border
L18 Only right
judgment (只有
正确的判断),
L19 Holding the Camera focuses
backcourt on the backcourt
boundary (坚守 boundary
底线，才能守
住胜利)。
68
L20 On the court of
life (在 人 生 的
赛场上),
L21 we also should (SHOT
eye on the SWITCH) Lin
backcourt Dan is speaking
boundary (也有
需要顶住的底
线).
L22 If the shuttle (SHOT
goes out (球 出 SWITCH) The
界了), back of another
athlete in red
L23 we still can get The athlete’s kill
the point back in the air
(丢掉的一分还
可以拼回来).
69
L24 The shuttle flies
beyond the
boundary.
L25 Another kill by
the red player
L26 Badmintons do
not go beyond the
boundary.
L27 No matter being (SHOT
a human or SWITCH) Lin
doing your job, Dan is speaking
we cannot go
beyond the
backcourt
boundary.
Otherwise what
you lose can
never be made
up. (做 人 做
事，越过了底
线，失去的也
70
许永远无法挽
回。)
L28 Your life cannot Lin Dan speaks
goes beyond the out the slogan
boundary; the that is shown in
backcourt red.
boundary must
be held (人生不
能越界，底线
必须坚守).
71