Chasm and net: metaphors in elder-related texts in a Chinese economic newspaper

China's rapidly aging population presents unprecedented challenges. While existing research focuses on geriatric syndromes, psychological well-being, and healthcare provision, this study explores a different perspective: how the media portrays elders' living conditions. News reports, particularly those in prominent state-run media like the *Economic Daily*, offer valuable insights into societal perceptions and policy priorities regarding the elderly. Metaphor analysis is a suitable tool for understanding the underlying rhetorical motives in these reports, revealing journalists' perspectives and the implicit messages conveyed to the public. Existing studies have utilized metaphor analysis to understand the portrayal of various social issues, including feminism on social media and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, limited research exists on how metaphors are used to represent elders' living conditions in Chinese economic news. This study aims to fill this gap by examining elder-related news reports in the *Economic Daily* from 2016 to 2022, using a framework integrating critical metaphor analysis and rhetorical criticism to understand how metaphors shape the narrative surrounding the lives of older people in the context of China's digital economy.

The existing literature on aging in China predominantly focuses on managing geriatric syndromes, addressing elders' psychological well-being, and improving healthcare provisions. Research also highlights the economic burden of age-related diseases and the prevalence of elder abuse. Studies emphasize the vulnerabilities of seniors in the digital era, calling for enhanced support systems and a robust long-term care system. However, this research often portrays a disadvantaged image of elders, neglecting their role as a significant force in the burgeoning silver economy. This study addresses this gap by analyzing how the *Economic Daily* frames the narrative around aging, utilizing a metaphor analysis to reveal hidden biases and assumptions.

This study employed a three-step critical metaphor analysis (CMA) framework integrating rhetorical criticism. The research questions focused on identifying prevalent metaphors in the *Economic Daily*, exploring the rhetorical motives behind them, and analyzing the reflection of elders' living conditions within the identified metaphors. Data consisted of 309 news reports from the *Economic Daily* (2016-2022), selected using keywords related to aging and the elderly. Metaphor identification and classification were performed using WordSmith 8.0 and manual annotation, referencing existing metaphor lists and classification systems. The subsequent steps involved interpreting the rhetorical motives behind the metaphor choices, considering both immediate context and broader societal factors, and evaluating the metaphors based on artistic, truth, ethical, and textuality criteria. The evaluation criteria assessed the metaphors' impact on rhetorical effectiveness, their reflection of social reality, their alignment with societal values, and their textual coherence.

The analysis identified 1671 types and 3978 tokens of metaphors across various source domains. Three prominent metaphor varieties emerged: METAPHOR OF NET (37.78%), METAPHOR OF BUILDING (22.01%), and METAPHOR OF CHASM (18.45%). The METAPHOR OF NET, frequently depicting government protection and technological safety nets for elders, satisfied artistic, truth, ethical, and textuality criteria. The METAPHOR OF BUILDING represented the potential and challenges of the silver economy, illustrating its nascent stage and inherent obstacles. This metaphor also met all four evaluation criteria, highlighting both the potential and limitations. The METAPHOR OF CHASM, illustrating the gap between elders and digital technology and the various challenges they face (financial abuse, digital poverty, etc.), effectively conveyed the difficulties faced by elders. This metaphor too met all evaluation criteria. The study also analyzed other metaphors, such as those related to war, body, nature, and others, demonstrating various aspects of the experiences of the elderly. Interconnections were found among the three major metaphors, often forming metaphorical chains that intertwined the concepts of building the silver economy, addressing the existing chasm, and implementing a protective net.

The prevalent use of "net" and "chasm" metaphors reflects the complexities of elders' lives in China's digital economy. The "chasm" symbolizes digital poverty, vulnerabilities within the silver economy, and the burden on institutions. The "net" represents government initiatives and societal efforts to protect elders. The study's findings highlight the need for policies aimed at bridging the "chasm" by improving digital literacy, regulating the silver economy, and addressing elder abuse. However, the dominance of the "net" metaphor suggests a potential oversight of elders' agency and subjectivity within these protective measures. While the focus on building safety nets might prompt helpful policy, it also risks marginalizing the elders themselves and hindering the adequate expression of their needs. The study suggests a more inclusive approach is needed—one that respects the elders' lived experience and actively empowers them in shaping the solutions to the challenges they face. Future research should explore the possible influence of this portrayal on the elders' social engagement, self-perception, and overall well-being.

This study provides a nuanced understanding of how the *Economic Daily* portrays elders' living conditions through metaphor analysis. The key takeaway is the co-existence of a "chasm" of difficulties and a "net" of protective measures. However, the study highlights the need for improvements to this net by including and respecting the subjectivity of the elderly and preventing marginalization. Future research should investigate broader timeframes, incorporate other media sources for comparison, and delve deeper into the direct impact of these metaphorical portrayals on the lives of the elderly.

This study is limited by its focus on a specific time period (2016-2022) and a single news outlet (*Economic Daily*). While the *Economic Daily* is authoritative and widely read, it represents only one perspective within the broader Chinese media landscape. The data might not fully capture the diversity of experiences and perceptions surrounding aging in China. Future research should expand the data collection to encompass a wider range of media sources and a longer time span to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the evolving portrayal of elders in China.