Using visual display to explore the dynamics of metaphor in conciliation talk

Understanding how talk can help conciliation in post-conflict situations should help mediators and peace-builders work more effectively. New computer software allows talk to be displayed on a timeline, rather like a cardiogram, and, by looking across the display, we are able to see how metaphors contribute to the shifting of ideas as talk proceeds. The project works with talk from a series of conciliation meetings between a perpetrator of violence and a victim, using metaphor as a tool to uncover how they move from a position of distrust and difference towards an understanding of each other’s viewpoint. Sample data and software tools used in the project are freely available from the website.