METAPHOR AS AN EXPRESSION OF “ECOLOGICAL CONSCIOUSNESS” (SYNTACTIC AND STYLISTIC ASPECTS OF ECOLOGICAL SPEECH UNITS)

Abstract

In recent decades, environmental issues have become central to global discourse, prompting increased scholarly attention to the linguistic mechanisms that shape ecological awareness. Among these mechanisms, metaphor plays a crucial role in conceptualizing environmental phenomena and influencing public attitudes toward nature. This article explores metaphor as a key expression of ecological consciousness, focusing on the syntactic and stylistic aspects of ecological speech units. Drawing on cognitive linguistics and ecolinguistics, the study analyzes how metaphors structure environmental discourse and reflect cultural perceptions of nature. The research employs descriptive, semantic, and stylistic analysis to examine ecological metaphors in English discourse. The findings demonstrate that metaphors such as “nature as a victim,” “the Earth as a living organism,” and “environmental crisis as war” are deeply embedded in linguistic structures and contribute to shaping ecological thinking. The study concludes that metaphor is not merely a stylistic device but a powerful cognitive and communicative tool that influences environmental awareness and behavior.