scholarly journals Evaluation and engagement in journalistic commentary and news reportage

2006 ◽  
pp. 225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juana Isabel Marín Arrese ◽  
Begoña Núñez Perucha
Keyword(s):  
Appraisal Theory ◽  
Evaluative Dimension ◽  
Linguistic Resources

This paper explores the expression of evaluation and the treatment of 'the same event' in news reportage and journalistic commentary in two languages (English, Spanish). In our analysis of the evaluative dimension, we draw on the framework of Appraisal Theory (Martin 2000; Martin and White 2005; White 2003, White 2004, inter alia), and elaborate on the analysis of the categories of evaluation, subsumed under the notion of Engagement, in relation to writer stance and to the dimension of subjectivity and intersubjectivity. The paper reveals the presence and patterning of the various linguistic resources for the expression of evaluation in these subgenres of journalistic discourse, and establishes comparisons across languages.

The discoursal construction of candidates in the tenth Iranian presidential elections

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 537-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali R. Abasi ◽  
Nahal Akbari
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Elections ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Appraisal Theory ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Linguistic Resources ◽  
News Discourse ◽  
Sociopolitical Context

This qualitative case study investigates dissent in the news discourse of a major pro-reform newspaper covering the Iranian presidential election debates that took place in June 2009. Drawing on appraisal theory as its analytical lens, the article examines the evaluation of the three major candidates in the paper’s coverage of the debates. The article begins with the broader sociopolitical context situating the watershed debates and a description of the legal framework within which the Iranian press operate. The analysis next details the function of attitudinal resources in the discursive representation of the political actors. As central to an ideologically invested strategy, evaluative linguistic resources are found to sharply dichotomize the political actors along a range of positive and negative value positions that dissent from those advanced in the narratives of the dominant power.

scholarly journals The representation of mental health sufferers in administrative and legal discourse

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Marchese ◽  
Claudia Celerier
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Buenos Aires ◽  
The Other ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Appraisal Theory ◽  
Buenos Aires Province ◽  
Analysis Framework ◽  
Linguistic Resources ◽  
Social Judgement

This article examines the records of mental incompetence cases filed at a court of the first instance in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Using a Critical Discourse Analysis framework and qualitative methods, we explore the ways in which mental health sufferers are represented. Applying Tone Theory and Appraisal Theory (attitude/judgement subsystem) to our data, we distinguish two discursive zones. In one of them, subjects are constructed with linguistic resources that amount to inscribed expressions of negative social judgement on their capacity. A discursive dichotomy is created whereby people are either competent or incompetent. In the other zone, these negative dichotomous judgements are largely softened by explicitly positive ones, without disappearing altogether. We suggest that mental incompetence, far from being a dichotomous concept, might be gradual.

‘Stealing Money’ OR ‘Embezzling Public Funds’: Construing sleaze in the Ugandan press via legalese

Journalism ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 146488492096541
Author(s):  
Levis Mugumya
Keyword(s):  
Appraisal Theory ◽  
Public Funds ◽  
Material Wealth ◽  
Rhetorical Strategy ◽  
State Laws ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Linguistic Resources ◽  
News Reports ◽  
Commissions Of Inquiry ◽  
Court Proceedings

This study examines the construction of news reportage relating to normative breach. It analyses news stories on major corruption incidents involving embezzlement and the misuse of public funds by government officials in Uganda. The study employs a discourse analysis to explore how corruption is constructed and construed in the print media. It invokes Appraisal Theory to analyse hard news reports recounting corruption occurrences, proceedings or findings of commissions of inquiry into corruption incidents and arrests of suspects, public hearings and court proceedings of suspected corrupt persons across two daily newspapers published in English. The study explicates the nature of linguistic evaluative resources that news writers invoke to map feelings, and to evaluate news actors, processes and phenomena. The analysis reveals that news reporters heavily rely on external texts and voices to recount corruption stories. These sources are couched in legal language (legalese), which in turn impinges on the linguistic resources employed to evaluate news actors. Whereas this rhetorical strategy enables the news report to achieve ‘objectivity’, it appears to protect the journalist against defamation or slander. Appraisal analysis reveals dominant instances of negative inscriptions of the social sanction of propriety, namely overt negative evaluations of non-compliance with the civic responsibilities and state laws. The news reportage exhibits positive attributes of corrupt persons in relation to their material wealth and social capital. Finally, the study also reveals the journalistic stance towards corruption, which is covertly shown via modes of meaning intensification.

scholarly journals The evaluative dimension of metaphor in discourse: Nn the possibilities of bringing together conceptual metaphor theory and appraisal theory

2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-142
Author(s):  
Ksenija Bogetic
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor ◽  
Appraisal Theory ◽  
Theory Analysis ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor Theory ◽  
Evaluative Dimension ◽  
Metaphor Theory ◽  
Construction Of Meaning ◽  
Evaluative Language ◽  
Theoretical Apparatus

The mechanisms of metaphorical evaluation have to date been little explored in the study of evaluative language and the study of metaphor, despite some earlier attempts to place them more firmly on the linguistic science agenda. The founders of Conceptual Metaphor Theory have argued that metaphor structures thought by influencing not only our understanding of concepts, but also our ability of criticising, evaluating and stance taking (Lakoff, Johnson 1999: 2), which is sporadically mentioned in approaches to linguistic evaluation, but with no theoretical or practical interaction with existing analyses of metaphor in discourse. The present paper explores the nature of metaphorical evaluation, drawing on the example of metaphorical representations of language in newspaper discourse. The analysis of the discourse on language is used to discuss metaphorical evaluation, to empirically examine its prominence in the discourse, and its contribution to the construction of meaning, as well as to discuss the broader theoretical and methodological implications. The findings point to the importance of metaphor in the evaluative subsystem of graduation, seen in the interaction of metaphorical and hyperbolic meanings. More broadly, it is argued that bringing together conceptual metaphor analysis and Appraisal Theory analysis offers a rich theoretical apparatus for socio-cognitive discourse analysis.

Walmart and its employee relations: organizational stance-taking and legitimacy

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 374-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeynep Cihan Koca-Helvaci
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Image ◽  
Employee Relations ◽  
Appraisal Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Linguistic Resources ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Self Image ◽  
Evaluative Language ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility Reports

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse how appraisal resources and legitimation strategies, concerning “associates” and “suppliers” in Walmart’s Corporate Social Responsibility reports from 2011 to 2013, contribute to the representation of a positive corporate image. Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws upon Appraisal Theory (Martin and White, 2005) and Legitimation Theory (van Leeuwen, 2007) to explore the link between evaluative language and legitimacy concerning abovementioned search terms. Findings – Walmart’s representations of its stance towards “associates” and “suppliers” differ greatly, although the corporation communicates a positive self-image through both of them. Walmart portrays its relationship with its “associates” as cooperative and mutually beneficial. On the other hand, the corporation presents the image of a philanthropist organisation that has been trying to improve the poor working conditions of its “suppliers” through strict regulations. Research limitations/implications – Only a small amount of data could be analysed manually due to the special nature of evaluative language and legitimation. Originality/value – This paper fulfils an identified need in studying social reporting in terms of linguistic resources.

scholarly journals An Approximation to Inclusive Language in LMOOCs Based on Appraisal Theory

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-67
Author(s):  
Elena Barcena ◽  
Timothy Read ◽  
Beatriz Sedano
Keyword(s):  
Online Courses ◽  
Verbal Communication ◽  
Appraisal Theory ◽  
Design Element ◽  
Linguistic Resources ◽  
Inclusive Language ◽  
First Approximation ◽  
Individual Discrimination ◽  
Displaced People

AbstractThis article explores inclusive language as a form of verbal communication in an open online language course for refugees and migrants. Firstly, the existing evidence of the benefits of using inclusive language in education is analyzed. Secondly, the specific need to use this type of language in the context of online courses for displaced people is discussed. Thirdly, a first approximation towards the identification of linguistic resources that may impact both group inclusion and individual discrimination is attempted, based on principles and categories from Appraisal Theory. Fourthly, the presence and effects of these linguistic resources are analyzed in the materials and forums of a highly successful LMOOC of elementary Spanish for refugees and migrants. Fifthly and finally, conclusions are drawn on the convenience of incorporating inclusive language as a design element in LMOOCs for displaced people, enhance its use in forums, and train facilitators accordingly.

Changes in Perceptions of Filipino Immigrants about Themselves and of Americans Before and After Coming to the United States

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gremil Alessandro Naz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Symbolic Interaction ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Appraisal Theory ◽  
American Values ◽  
The Us ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Symbolic Interaction Theory ◽  
Filipino Immigrants

<p>This paper examines the changes in Filipino immigrants’ perceptions about themselves and of Americans before and after coming to the United States. Filipinos have a general perception of themselves as an ethnic group. They also have perceptions about Americans whose media products regularly reach the Philippines. Eleven Filipinos who have permanently migrated to the US were interviewed about their perceptions of Filipinos and Americans. Before coming to the US, they saw themselves as hardworking, family-oriented, poor, shy, corrupt, proud, adaptable, fatalistic, humble, adventurous, persevering, gossipmonger, and happy. They described Americans as rich, arrogant, educated, workaholic, proud, powerful, spoiled, helpful, boastful, materialistic, individualistic, talented, domineering, friendly, accommodating, helpful, clean, and kind. Most of the respondents changed their perceptions of Filipinos and of Americans after coming to the US. They now view Filipinos as having acquired American values or “Americanized.” On the other hand, they stopped perceiving Americans as a homogenous group possessing the same values after they got into direct contact with them. The findings validate social perception and appraisal theory, and symbolic interaction theory.</p>

Improving EFL learners' pragmatic awareness

2003 ◽  
Vol 141-142 ◽  
pp. 199-223
Author(s):  
Seran Doğançay-Aktuna
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Native Speaker ◽  
Effective Communication ◽  
Pragmatic Competence ◽  
Main Claim ◽  
Advanced Level ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Linguistic Resources ◽  
Pragmatic Awareness ◽  
Language Classrooms

This paper overviews the ways in which EFL learners' pragmatic awareness can be developed in language classrooms through focused instruction and practice. It argues that effective communication requires awareness of the conventions governing language use and attention to the characteristics of the context and the interlocutors, besides linguistic resources. The main claim is that even though some pragmatics data that is based on native speaker norms might not provide relevant models for learners of English as a foreign or international language, these learners still need to become aware of crosscultural variation in norms of language use and learn how to consider social and contextual factors surrounding effective communication. After defining pragmatic competence and transfer, the paper discusses possible ways for integrating pragmatic consciousness-raising into language teaching and the problems involved in this endeavour. It then describes a course designed to raise pragmatic awareness in advanced level EFL learners as part of their TEFL training program. The underlying principles, materials and sample activities of the course are presented and learners' reaction to the course is discussed.

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