Valence Distribution and Valence Alignment in the Metaphor Być Na Świeczniku in the Polish Language

Abstract

This study investigates the valence distribution and alignment of the Polish metaphor być na świeczniku (literally ‘to be on a candlestick’), which represents public visibility and attention. While conventionally considered positive, corpus analysis of the Polish Web Corpus 2019 reveals that the meaning of the metaphor is more nuanced. Neutral valence is the most frequent, followed by negative and positive valence. Negative valence often highlights scrutiny, criticism, and forced exposure, whereas positive valence emphasizes prestige and recognition. The study introduces the concept of valence alignment, referring to how emotional valence is reinforced within a passage, either sustaining or shifting the connotation of the metaphor. The findings indicate that in political discourse, the metaphor is more likely to carry negative connotations, often in terms of surveillance and judgment. This aligns with broader trends in political communication, where metaphors are strategically used to shape public perception. The study contributes to research on metaphor, emotional valence, and corpus-based discourse analysis, demonstrating how conventional metaphors undergo contextual shifts in meaning.

Keywords: valence, valence distribution, metaphor, Polish, context, valence alignment