Superweed amaranth: metaphor and the power of a threatening discourse

Abstract

This paper analyses the use of metaphor in discourses around the “superweed” Palmer amaranth. Most weed scientists associated with the US public agricultural extension system dismiss the term superweed. However, together with the media, they indirectly encourage aggressive control practices by actively diffusing the framing of herbicide resistant Palmer amaranth as an existential threat that should be eradicated at any cost. We use argumentative discourse analysis to better understand this process. We analyze a corpus consisting of reports, policy briefs, and press releases produced by state extension services, as well as articles from professional and popular magazines and newspapers quoting extension specialists and/or public sector weed scientists or agronomists. We show how the superweed discourse is powered by negative metaphors, and legitimizes aggressive steps to eradicate the weed. This discourse reinforces the farmers’ techno-optimism master frame, contributes to deskilling of farmers and sidelines ethical concerns.

Evolving meanings of ‘principles’ in agronomic discourse

“…Frames and narratives are constructed using a variety of linguistic features and rhetorical devices. For example, the use of metaphor played a critical role in framing the problems of invasive plants (e.g., Bach and Larson, 2017) and ‘superweeds’ (Bétrisey et al, 2022). The point is that words – when, how and by whom they are used, and the meanings and images they convey – are one key to understanding the politics of knowledge in any particular field.…”

“Xylella is the Enemy that Must be Fought”: Representations of the X. Fastidiosa Bacterium in the Media Discourse

“… 1 Similarly, there is an absorbing study on the “superweed” Palmer amaranth (Bétrisey et al, 2021 ), providing an analysis of metaphors used in various discourses (including different genres and styles) to build frames for justifying aggressive eradication measures of this inimical plant. …”

“…Similarly, there is an absorbing study on the "superweed" Palmer amaranth(Bétrisey et al, 2021), providing an analysis of metaphors used in various discourses (including different genres and styles) to build frames for justifying aggressive eradication measures of this inimical plant.2 The following websites were searched: https://www.bbc.com/, https://www.dailymail.co.uk, https:// www.theguardian.com/uk, https://www.independent.co.uk, https://www.oliveoiltimes.com/ and https:// www.telegraph.co.uk.…”