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<p>There is evidence in the use of conceptual metaphors across registers, including legal resisters globally (Twardzisz, in: Šeškauskienė (ed) Metaphors in legal discourse Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle, 2022; Blandino in Int J Semiotics Law - Revue Int de Sémiotique Juridique, 2025). Using a descriptive case-by-case qualitative approach and multiple case sampling techniques, this study investigates the metaphors in six court judgments by the Supreme Court of Ghana within Lakoff and Johnson’s (Metaphors we live by, The University of Chicago Press, London, 1980) Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT). The study adopts the Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP) developed by the Pragglejaz Group (Metaphor Symbol 22:1–39, 2007) as the data analysis procedure. Drawing from the responses of 150 Ghanaians, the study also explores how metaphors shape public perception of fairness and justness in the judgments of the Supreme Court of Ghana. The findings reveal the use of structural, ontological, and orientational metaphors to frame abstract legal concepts into concrete lived experiences. Specifically, the findings reveal, among others, the following conceptual metaphors: A COURT PROCEEDING IS A BATTLE, CASES ARE BUILDING, and TIME IS MONEY. Further, this study reveals that metaphors enhance public comprehension of judgments by simplifying abstract legal principles, consequently, influencing public perception of fairness and justice the Ghanaian court. This study extends scholarship in the areas of cognitive semantics and legal communication by highlighting conceptual metaphors as clarifying tools and potential obfuscators of legal reasoning and understanding.</p>

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The Role of Conceptual Metaphors in Public Perception of Ghanaian Court Judgments

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月21日

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  • Daniel Dwamena Ofosu,
  • James Gyimah Manu,
  • Mohammed Sanka,
  • Sanka Washew

摘要

There is evidence in the use of conceptual metaphors across registers, including legal resisters globally (Twardzisz, in: Šeškauskienė (ed) Metaphors in legal discourse Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle, 2022; Blandino in Int J Semiotics Law - Revue Int de Sémiotique Juridique, 2025). Using a descriptive case-by-case qualitative approach and multiple case sampling techniques, this study investigates the metaphors in six court judgments by the Supreme Court of Ghana within Lakoff and Johnson’s (Metaphors we live by, The University of Chicago Press, London, 1980) Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT). The study adopts the Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP) developed by the Pragglejaz Group (Metaphor Symbol 22:1–39, 2007) as the data analysis procedure. Drawing from the responses of 150 Ghanaians, the study also explores how metaphors shape public perception of fairness and justness in the judgments of the Supreme Court of Ghana. The findings reveal the use of structural, ontological, and orientational metaphors to frame abstract legal concepts into concrete lived experiences. Specifically, the findings reveal, among others, the following conceptual metaphors: A COURT PROCEEDING IS A BATTLE, CASES ARE BUILDING, and TIME IS MONEY. Further, this study reveals that metaphors enhance public comprehension of judgments by simplifying abstract legal principles, consequently, influencing public perception of fairness and justice the Ghanaian court. This study extends scholarship in the areas of cognitive semantics and legal communication by highlighting conceptual metaphors as clarifying tools and potential obfuscators of legal reasoning and understanding.