How English Linguistic Features Construct or Obscure Climate Responsibility ——A Cognitive Linguistic Perspective

Zhang Ruijia

North China Electric Power University

Abstract：

Climate responsibility is not only a political or economic question but also a matter of linguistic construal. English, as the working language of international climate governance, offers a range of grammatical and lexical resources that can foreground or background the agents of emissions, present commitments as strong or weak, and frame the climate crisis in ways that invite particular responses. This article adopts a cognitive linguistic perspective, drawing on construal theory, framing, and conceptual metaphor, to examine six recurrent features of English-language climate texts: passive voice, nominalization, modal hedging, vague pronouns, technical terminology, and dominant metaphors. The analysis draws on examples from IPCC summaries, government policy statements, media reporting, and corporate sustainability communication. It argues that these features shape perceived responsibility not by explicit denial but by directing attention, adjusting specificity, and activating interpretive frames that make some causal links salient while leaving others in the background. The article concludes that understanding these cognitive effects is essential for anyone concerned with climate justice, since linguistic choices influence who is seen as accountable and which remedies appear reasonable.

Key Words：

Cognitive Linguistics; construal; framing; metaphor; climate responsibility; linguistic agency