Cognitive analysis of conceptual metaphors in derogatory language referring to Peruvian politicians on social media X; [Analyse cognitive des métaphores conceptuelles dans le langage péjoratif visant les politiciens péruviens sur le réseau social X]; [Análise cognitiva das metáforas conceptuais na linguagem depreciativa referida aos políticos peruanos na rede social X]

de la Cruz D. · Lengua y Sociedad (2026) · DOI: 10.15381/lengsoc.v25i1.32145

Resumen

This article examines the conceptual metaphors underlying the derogatory language used by users of the social media platform X to refer to Peruvian politicians during the 2020–2022 period. Methodologically, this is a descriptive-explanatory study with a qualitative approach. To construct the corpus, an observation sheet was used to record 62 metaphorical expressions and classify 37 of them directed at members of Congress, former presidents, and ministers. The selection criteria were based on derogatory connotation, direct reference to specific political figures (not Congress in general), and the presence of metaphorical conceptualization. The theoretical framework was based on the postulates of Lakoff and Johnson (1980), which allowed for the identification of structural, orientational, and ontological metaphors grouped into three megametaphors: politics is a spider web, politicians are objects, and politicians are animals. The results showed a predominance of ontological metaphors, especially those involving animalization, which revealed a tendency to dehumanize Peruvian politicians by presenting them as animalized beings. This cognitive strategy reinforced the discrediting of political actors in the digital discourse on social media platform X and intensified the construction of a negative perception of them among the Peruvian public. © Los autores.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos