Speed, Strategy, and Symbolism: A Corpus-Based Study of Metaphor and Terminology in Formula 1 Discourse

This dissertation provides a comparative, corpus-based analysis of the language of Formula 1 journalism, examining a collection of articles from BBC Sport (English) and La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italian). Grounded in Conceptual Metaphor Theory, the study investigates the hybrid discourse of F1, focusing on the interplay between metaphorical language and technical terminology. The analysis, conducted with the Sketch Engine suite, reveals that while both languages share the dominant RACE IS WAR metaphor to create narrative drama, significant cross-linguistic differences emphasizing historical achievement. In stark contrast, Italian journalism shows a strong preference for the stella (star) metaphor, comparing drivers to celebrities, and processes the unique artistic verb pennellare. The study also provides empirical evidence of the pervasive use of English technical loanwords in the Italian corpus. Ultimately, this research demonstrates that F1’s language balances a global, technical lexicon with local, culturally specific narrative conventions, a key factor in its worldwide appeal.