“We are in the same storm, not in the same boat”: Proverbial wisdom in environmental debates

Auge, Anais Camille [UCL]

The chapter proposes to investigate the implications of the proverbial phrase to be in the same boat in international debates about climate change. The study exposes the endorsed or disputed uses of the proverb. I analyse its exploitation by different discourse producers who convey different opinions. The data are extracted from various texts and speeches produced (or translated) in English. This research illustrates how the proverb can be exploited to fit different cultural traditions and different environmental concerns. The aim of the chapter is to identify the different arguments promoted by the use of the proverb. It also highlights the aspects of the proverb that may not correspond to the reality of climate change. This gives rise to argumentative exploitations using related metaphorical expressions. With reliance on cognitive metaphor theories (Lakoff 1993, 2004, 2010), and on metaphor scenarios in particular (Musolff 2004, 2016, 2019a), the occurrences discussed below demonstrate how the metaphorical image of the EARTH IS A CONTAINER has been challenged through the depiction of the EARTH IS A BOAT. Indeed, the source concept BOAT comprises particular characteristics that can cause division among discourse producers to the extent that climate change debates may revolve around the use and misuse of the proverb. The chapter demonstrates that the proverbial phrase to be in the same boat involves precarious implications in environmental discourse.