Conceptual Metaphor 'FOOTBALLERS ARE COMMODITIES' in Vietnamese Sports News

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Nguyen Thi Bich Hanh
Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen

Abstract

This study aims to identify linguistic expressions carrying the conceptual metaphor 'FOOTBALLERS ARE COMMODITIES' in Vietnamese sports news and discuss how the source domain COMMODITIES helps to comprehend the target domain FOOTBALLERS and therefore clarify native speakers’ ways of thinking. Based on the experiential correlations and knowledge mapped from source domain to target domain, the study explains the conceptual construction in the news. It has been found that the aspects of COMMODITIES selected for mapping come from the news writers’ common knowledge about commodities. By decoding the mechanism of the construction and mapping scheme of the COMMODITIES metaphor, we can see that the news sources are quite consistent when the writers all code “footballers” as commodities with the features associated with commodities, viz. “commodities’ value; means of purchase of commodities; risks to commodities; purchase and sale of commodities; target/potential customers of commodities; trading environment; intermediary activities related to the exchange, purchase and sales of commodities”. The mapping helps readers to understand more about footballers from a very interesting perspective. Their talent and skills are valuable and can be assessed; in other words, they are considered “a special commodity” for exchange. Therefore, star footballers sometimes move from one club to another club via transfers, and the personnel exchange between institutions is carried out via similar steps of buying and selling COMMODITIES, negotiation and signing of work contract.

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References

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Sources of Sample Sport News in the Corpus

Endo. (2019) CỰC NÓNG: ‘Cạ cứng’ của Ronaldo đồng ý gia nhập Juventus. [Hot news: Ronaldo’s best companion agreed to join Juventus.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/cuc-nong-ca-cung-cua-ronaldo-dong-y-gia-nhap-juventus-d507901.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [24]

Faro. (2019) Đại gia Trung Quốc vung tiền chiêu mộ "sát thủ" Belotti. [The Chinese bigwig threw his money around to get “killer” Belotti.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/dai-gia-trung-quoc-vung-tien-chieu-mo-sat-thu-belotti-d508477.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [3, 26]

Faro. (2019) Tiết lộ "vũ khí bí mật" để AC Milan chiêu mộ mục tiêu của Jose Mourinho. [“Secret weapon” for recruiting Jose Mourinho’s target is revealed.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/tiet-lo-vu-khi-bi-mat-de-ac-milan-chieu-mo-muc-tieu-cua-jose-mourinho-d509247. html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [28]

Lam, T. (2019) Chuyển nhượng 08/01: M.U chốt vị trí tử huyệt: Real nổ “bom tấn” 100 triệu; Barca có tân binh. [Transfer 08/01: M.U fixed the most important position; Real exploded the 100 million transfer bomb; Barca had a new soldier.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/chuyen-nhuong-08-01-mu-chot-vi-tri-tu-huyet-real-no-bom-tan-100-trieu-barca-co-tan-binh-d504597.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [18]

Lam, T. (2019) Chuyển nhượng 09/02: Chốt 3 vị trí, M.U đón tân binh 100 triệu; Real nổ bom tấn 80 triệu. [Transfer 09/02: fixed three positions; M.U welcomed the arrival of 100 million-new soldier; Real exploded the 80 million transfer bomb.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/chuyen-nhuong-09-02-chot-3-vi-tri-mu-don-tan-binh-100-trieu-real-no-bom-tan-80-trieu-d508569.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [19]

Lam, T. (2019) Chuyển nhượng 11/02: M.U tặng 'tân binh' khủng cho Solskjaer; Real giật bom tấn Pogba. [Transfer 11/02: M.U presented a big “new soldier” to Solskjaer; Real exploded the transfer bomb Pogba.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/chuyen-nhuong-11-02-mu-tang-tan-binh-khung-cho-solskjaer-real-giat-bom-tan-pogba-d508820.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [11, 27]

Lam, T. (2019) Chuyển nhượng 15/02: Rõ vụ Dybala, M.U tiến sát Neymar; Đẩy đi 1 cái tên, Chelsea giật 'bom tấn' 100 triệu. [Dybala clarified, M.U approached Neymar; one name given away, Chelsea exploded a 100 million tranfer bomb.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/chuyen-nhuong-15-02-ro-vu-dybala-mu-tien-sat-neymar-day-di-1-cai-ten-chelsea-giat-bom-tan-100-trieu-d509488.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [2]

Lam, T. (2019) Chuyển nhượng 28/3: Chốt 3 tân binh, M.U phá kỷ lục mua sắm; Điều kiện Mane tới Real. [Transfer 28/3: with three new soldiers fixed, M.U broke the transfer record; The terms for Mane to Real.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/chuyen-nhuong-28-03-chot-3-tan-binh-mu-pha-ky-luc-mua-sam-dieu-kien-mane-toi-real-d516109.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese]

Lam, T. (2019) Nóng! Man Utd chốt tương lai Alexis Sanchez. [Hot news! Man Utd fixed the future of Alexis Sanchez.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/nong-man-utd-chot-tuong-lai-alexis-sanchez-d5094

html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [7]

Lam, T. (2019) Solskjaer ra tay, BLĐ M.U tăng lương gấp 3 + 95 triệu bảng lấy 'phù thuỷ thành London'. [Solskjaer showed talent; M.U leaders increased the pay three times + €95 million to get the “London witch”.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/solskjaer-ra-tay-bld-mu-tang-luong-gap-3--95-trieu-bang-lay-phu-thuy-thanh-london-d519035.html] [accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [4]

Lam, T. (2019) Giật 5 tân binh, M.U lấy luôn “Ballack 2.0; Chelsea nổ bom tấn 90 triệu thay Hazzard. [Robbing 5 new soldiers, M.U got Ballack 2.0; Chelsea exploded the €90 million transfer bomb instead of Hazzard.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/chuyen-nhuong-12-05-giat-5-tan-binh-mu-lay-luon-ballack-20-chelsea-no-bom-tan-90-trieu-thay-hazard-d523695.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [25]

Nam, G. (2019) Tiết lộ: Mourinho muốn Man Utd mua 1 người trước khi bị "trảm". [Revealed: Mourinho wanted Man Utd to buy one person before “being beheaded”.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/tiet-lo-mourinho-muon-man-utd-mua-1-nguoi-truoc-khi-bi-tram-d509341.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [16,17,23]

Sồ, P. (2019) Tiết lộ: Lý do thương vụ sao PSG đến Arsenal đổ vỡ phút chót. [Revealed: Why the transfer of PSG star to Arsenal broke at the last minute.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/tiet-lo-ly-do-thuong-vu-sao-psg-den-arsenal-do-vo-phut-chot-d507708.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [6]

Toản, V. Q. (2019) Barca không muốn để Suarez gia nhập Arsenal vì 1 người. [Barca doesn’t want Suarez to join Arsenal because of one person.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/barca-khong-muon-de-suarez-gia-nhap-arsenal-vi-1-nguoi-d506874.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [13]

Toản, V. Q. (2019) Công việc tại Real Madrid lúc đó như một củ khoai. [The job at Real Madrid was like a potato that time.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/cong-viec-tai-real-madrid-luc-do-nhu-mot-cu-khoai-d507760.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [15]

Toản, V. Q. (2019) Xong! Xác định 3 ngôi sao đội một sẽ rời Man Utd mùa hè này. [Done! 3 stars are leaving Man Utd this summer.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/xong-xac-dinh-3-ngoi-sao-doi-mot-se-roi-man-utd-mua-he-nay-d507805.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [9]

Toản, V. Q. (2019) Man Utd ra giá 70 triệu bảng cho thần đồng được ví với Mbappe. [Man Utd charge € 70 million for the “infant prodigy” Mbappe.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/man-utd-ra-gia-70-trieu-bang-cho-than-dong-duoc-vi-voi-mbappe-d509566.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [8]

Tú, A. (2019) Chợ hè chưa mở, Emery đã tính chuyện săn “hàng” miễn phí. [Although the summer fair is not yet opened, Emery has already planned to hunt for free “commodities”.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/cho-he-chua-mo-emery-da-tinh-chuyen-san-hang-mien-phi-d508006.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [21]

Tú, A. (2019) Dự chi 120 triệu euro, Real quyết "cướp người" của Man Utd. [Planning to spend €120 million, Real determined to “rob” players out of Man Utd.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/du-chi-120-trieu-euro-real-quyet-cuop-nguoi-cua-man-utd-d508227.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [5, 14]

Tú, A. (2019) Nâng ngân sách, Tottenham quyết cướp hàng của Man Utd cho Pochettino. [Increasing the budget, Tottenham determined to rob “commodities” out of Man Utd for Pocettino.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/nang-ngan-sach-tottenham-quyet-cuop-hang-cua-man-utd-cho-pochettino-d508005.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [22]

Tú, A. (2019) Real ra quyết định, báo tin cực vui cho Man Utd vụ sao 80 triệu Euro.[Real made decision, telling Man Utd good news about the € 80 million star.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/real-ra-quyet-dinh-bao-tin-cuc-vui-cho-man-utd-vu-sao-80-trieu-euro-d508290.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [20]

Tú, A. (2019) Tìm "Fernandinho 2.0", Pep tính "nẫng tay trên" mục tiêu 70 triệu bảng của Man Utd. [Looking for “Fernadinho 2.0”, Pep plans to scoop the 70-million-pound target of Man Utd.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/tim-fernandinho-20-pep-tinh-nang-tay-tren-muc-tieu-70-trieu-bang-cua-man-utd-d509322.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [12]

Tuấn, M. (2019) Người đại diện: "Mục tiêu của Man Utd sẽ là QBV tương lai". [Representative: “Man Utd’s goal is to become future QBV.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/nguoi-dai-dien-muc-tieu-cua-man-utd-se-la-qbv-tuong-lai-d509499.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [1]

Võ, K. (2019) Từ chối Man Utd sang Qatar, sao 31 tuổi hứng trọn "gạch đá". [Rejecting Man Utd for Qatar, 31 year-old star faced criticism.] [Online URL: http://www.tinthethao.com.vn/tu-choi-man-utd-sang-qatar-sao-31-tuoi-hung-tron-gach-da-d508318.html] accessed on August 20, 2019. [In Vietnamese] [10]