Metaphors of loss and resilience: a cognitive-semiotic perspective on landscape reconstruction after the eruption of Tajogaite volcano in La Palma

Abstract

The eruption of Tajogaite in 2021 irreversibly transformed the landscape ofbLa Palma, generating a radically new volcanic territory with significant tourism potential (Gkoliomyti & Tsukamoto, 2021). Since the end of the event, urban planning has prioritized policies aimed at the recovery and reconstruction of pre-eruptive conditions. However, the absence of in-depth, community-oriented studies that inform planning decisions is adversely impacting the post-eruptive lava field landscape. This lack of contextualized knowledge has led to missed opportunities for developing an integrated infrastructure that harmonizes tourism development with the unique characteristics of the volcanic landscape (ICOMOS & UNESCO, 2020; Gkoliomyti & Tsukamoto, 2021). After eruption, La Palma faces not only material reconstruction but also the challenge of recovering intangible heritage, emotional ties, and the fractured narratives of its communities (Pallasmaa, 2025). Our interdisciplinary project, combining cognitive linguistics, semiotics, and architectural research, examines how affected residents conceptualize the volcanic landscape, the loss of homes and land, and the ongoing recovery process (Kövecses, 2020). Through interviews with local inhabitants and analysis of their narratives, we identify recurring conceptual metaphors and image schemas that structure how people talk about the eruption, aid distribution, land use, and identity (Wachowiak et al., 2022). These metaphors—such as the island as a body, the lava as an intruder, or home as rootedness—reveal how trauma, belonging, and perceived injustice shape responses to institutional interventions and spatial proposals (Kövecses, 2020). By mapping these metaphorical structures and embodied experiences, we aim to support more context-sensitive planning decisions. This includes recognizing emotional geographies, the value of informal networks and senior residents’ knowledge, and the role of storytelling in preserving memory (ICOMOS & UNESCO, 2020; Gkoliomyti & Tsukamoto, 2021). Our approach offers a transdisciplinary toolkit to better align architectural and touristic strategies with the lived experiences of those most affected.