A Critical Discourse Analysis of Language in Ghanaian Newspaper Editorials
The study explores the linguistic devices, approaches and styles in media discourse that are used to stake claims to knowledge, to influence attitudes and to promote critical thinking, among other functional roles of language. The study was equally interested in knowing the outcomes of the choice of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Athens Institute for Education and Research
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.athensjournals.gr/media/2021-7-1-3-Bakuuro.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818873356705857536 |
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| author | Justine Bakuuro Africanus L. Diedong |
| author_facet | Justine Bakuuro Africanus L. Diedong |
| author_sort | Justine Bakuuro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study explores the linguistic devices, approaches and styles in media discourse that are used to stake claims to knowledge, to influence attitudes and to promote critical thinking, among other functional roles of language. The study was equally interested in knowing the outcomes of the choice of these linguistic devices as far as communication is concerned. Linguistic devices such as modality, evaluative adjectives, adverbs, generic phrases, rhetoric and idioms among others, are used to state opinions, make predictions and influence attitudes. The study hypothesises that the study of language can be used in particular ways, so intended by the user, to achieve specific purposes. Eight different newspapers: The Daily Graphic, The Ghanaian Times, The Mirror, The Crusading Guide, The Insight, The Independent, The Catholic Standard and The Daily Guide, editorial excerpts were culled and used for the study of language use in newspaper editorials. The styles used and the reasons behind the choice of those devices and styles are closely looked at in the analysis. With Systemic Functional Linguistics, complemented with Van-Dijk’s theory of Media Discourse as models of analysis, the study is theoretically anchored. The study concludes that editorial writers use linguistic devices to express different shades of attitude and opinion, to influence, shape or re-shape their readers’ attitudes and to promote critical thinking of readers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T12:53:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e348d27093524bf2ac64ed9d5ab5c5f1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2407-9499 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T12:53:25Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Athens Institute for Education and Research |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-e348d27093524bf2ac64ed9d5ab5c5f12022-12-21T20:20:28ZengAthens Institute for Education and ResearchAthens Journal of Mass Media and Communications2407-94992021-01-01714560The study explores the linguistic devices, approaches and styles in media discourse that are used to stake claims to knowledge, to influence attitudes and to promote critical thinking, among other functional roles of language. The study was equally interested in knowing the outcomes of the choice of these linguistic devices as far as communication is concerned. Linguistic devices such as modality, evaluative adjectives, adverbs, generic phrases, rhetoric and idioms among others, are used to state opinions, make predictions and influence attitudes. The study hypothesises that the study of language can be used in particular ways, so intended by the user, to achieve specific purposes. Eight different newspapers: The Daily Graphic, The Ghanaian Times, The Mirror, The Crusading Guide, The Insight, The Independent, The Catholic Standard and The Daily Guide, editorial excerpts were culled and used for the study of language use in newspaper editorials. The styles used and the reasons behind the choice of those devices and styles are closely looked at in the analysis. With Systemic Functional Linguistics, complemented with Van-Dijk’s theory of Media Discourse as models of analysis, the study is theoretically anchored. The study concludes that editorial writers use linguistic devices to express different shades of attitude and opinion, to influence, shape or re-shape their readers’ attitudes and to promote critical thinking of readers. Keywords: Linguistic Devices, Media Discourse, Communication, Language, Styles10.30958/ajmmc.7-1-3A Critical Discourse Analysis of Language in Ghanaian Newspaper EditorialsJustine Bakuuro0Africanus L. Diedong1PhD Student, University of Ghana, GhanaSenior Lecturer, University for Development Studies, GhanaThe study explores the linguistic devices, approaches and styles in media discourse that are used to stake claims to knowledge, to influence attitudes and to promote critical thinking, among other functional roles of language. The study was equally interested in knowing the outcomes of the choice of these linguistic devices as far as communication is concerned. Linguistic devices such as modality, evaluative adjectives, adverbs, generic phrases, rhetoric and idioms among others, are used to state opinions, make predictions and influence attitudes. The study hypothesises that the study of language can be used in particular ways, so intended by the user, to achieve specific purposes. Eight different newspapers: The Daily Graphic, The Ghanaian Times, The Mirror, The Crusading Guide, The Insight, The Independent, The Catholic Standard and The Daily Guide, editorial excerpts were culled and used for the study of language use in newspaper editorials. The styles used and the reasons behind the choice of those devices and styles are closely looked at in the analysis. With Systemic Functional Linguistics, complemented with Van-Dijk’s theory of Media Discourse as models of analysis, the study is theoretically anchored. The study concludes that editorial writers use linguistic devices to express different shades of attitude and opinion, to influence, shape or re-shape their readers’ attitudes and to promote critical thinking of readers.https://www.athensjournals.gr/media/2021-7-1-3-Bakuuro.pdflinguistic devicesmedia discoursecommunicationlanguagestyles |
| spellingShingle | Justine Bakuuro Africanus L. Diedong A Critical Discourse Analysis of Language in Ghanaian Newspaper Editorials Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications linguistic devices media discourse communication language styles |
| title | A Critical Discourse Analysis of Language in Ghanaian Newspaper Editorials |
| title_full | A Critical Discourse Analysis of Language in Ghanaian Newspaper Editorials |
| title_fullStr | A Critical Discourse Analysis of Language in Ghanaian Newspaper Editorials |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Critical Discourse Analysis of Language in Ghanaian Newspaper Editorials |
| title_short | A Critical Discourse Analysis of Language in Ghanaian Newspaper Editorials |
| title_sort | critical discourse analysis of language in ghanaian newspaper editorials |
| topic | linguistic devices media discourse communication language styles |
| url | https://www.athensjournals.gr/media/2021-7-1-3-Bakuuro.pdf |
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