This session seeks to promote new knowledge about the nature and function of metaphor in public discourse. Interpretations of contemporary events tend to use metaphorical expressions to describe cultural and social changes in society, illuminating but also hiding concepts embedded in discourse. Academicians from various fields of studies will highlight ways in which conceptualizations govern our understanding of key issues and actions in current times. Participants are encouraged to explore metaphor as expressed through written, oral, visual, and gestural languages in public discourse.