Images of the Death Phenomenon: A Metaphorical Study on Earthquake Victims; [Ölüm Olgusuna Yönelik İmgeler: Depremzedeler Üzerine Metaforik Bir Araştırma]

In February 2023, two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 7.6 in magnitude struck 11 provinces, with their epicenter in Kahramanmaraş. These earthquakes have been described as the most significant disaster of the century, resulting in extensive structural damage and numerous casualties. Those who survived the earthquake faced death and experienced traumatic events. Concepts such as death are sensitive and complex, making them challenging to express without linguistic support. In this context, individuals often prefer to communicate their thoughts and feelings-essentially their abstract self-experience-through metaphorical expressions. This study aims to identify earthquake victims' metaphorical perceptions of death through qualitative and quantitative phenomenological and correlation analyses. The sample of the study consists of earthquake victims residing in Kahramanmaraş who were directly affected by the earthquakes of February 6, 2023, aged 18 and over, and who volunteered to participate in the interview, determined by purposive sampling. For the implementation of the study, ethical approval was obtained from the Gümüşhane University Rectorate, reference number 2024/3. A total of 291 participants voluntarily took part in the study. Data were collected using a semi-structured metaphorical perception form that included the prompt “Death is like/similar to…” along with sociodemographic variables. The data obtained were analysed using coding and categorisation methods to examine patterns and relationships of meaning in line with the research objectives. The findings revealed that participants generated 88 distinct valid metaphors related to the concept of death. Notably, participants focused on the metaphors of “end,” “restart,” and “gift,” while the category with the fewest metaphors was "reckoning time".