Rationale of the research
Media serves as a crucial modern tool for information gathering, influencing how audiences perceive global events It acts as a powerful platform for producing and disseminating social meanings, shaping readers' thoughts through carefully constructed language Journalists play a vital role in this process by selecting specific words and grammatical structures, which convey nuanced meanings and metaphors that impact public perspective.
Newspapers serve as a vital media tool, providing audiences with essential information about current events and cultural topics of interest According to Kurt Loder, effective news content encompasses anything engaging that connects with global happenings and cultural developments relevant to the audience.
In 1945, the presentation of events by various news sources often leads to differing narratives, raising concerns about the impartiality of information provided by journalists Fowler (1991) argues that the language used in the press is inherently biased, filled with values and ideologies that shape public perception The media's influence extends to shaping individuals' thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs To truly comprehend the nature of news reports, including the underlying social dynamics, hidden ideologies, and the portrayal of people and issues, it is essential for readers to adopt a critical mindset.
The disappearance of airplane MH370 captured global attention, drawing followers from various regions unlike any previous aviation incident As updates on the missing aircraft unfolded, a diverse audience, including readers and commentators, eagerly awaited the outcome of this tragic event.
The global involvement of foreign military and search teams in the search for the missing MH370 aircraft has captured widespread attention, leading to a range of speculations Observers have expressed diverse perspectives, from positive to negative, regarding the implications of the incident for Malaysia and its significance in world history.
News reporters strategically select their words to convey information about the disappearance of the MH370 airplane A researcher conducted a study analyzing the lexical features and metaphors used in news reports from both broadsheet and tabloid newspapers This analysis, framed within critical discourse analysis, aims to uncover how media institutions shape their representation of reality and influence readers' ideologies regarding the incident.
Scope of the research
This study explored the contrasting opinions and attitudes of writers in broadsheet and tabloid newspapers when reporting identical events, emphasizing the selection of three key lexical categories: nouns, verbs, and adjectives Furthermore, it examined the relationship between metaphorical expressions and their meanings, highlighting their significance in reflecting the writers' attitudes.
This study utilized Van Dijk's semantics theory to analyze data, focusing on lexical styles that convey positive or negative meanings It also examined metaphors to uncover the authors' perspectives The research drew on twenty online news articles about the missing flight MH370, sourced from The Telegraph, a broadsheet newspaper, and The Mirror, a tabloid The analysis covered articles published from March onward.
8 th 2014 to May 8 th 2014, was chosen as it attracted remarkable attention from the media and had a wide range of news articles relating to the event.
Objectives of the research
This article examines the lexical choices of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and metaphorical expressions in broadsheet and tabloid articles about the disappearance of flight MH370 It highlights how language varies between the two newspaper types, influencing public perception and emotional response The analysis reveals that broadsheet articles tend to use more formal and descriptive language, while tabloids favor sensationalism and dramatic expressions By comparing these linguistic elements, the study sheds light on the broader implications of media representation in high-profile aviation incidents.
- Uncover the attitudes and opinions of the writers when discussing the same event by their choice of words
Research questions
(1) How is the disappearance of Malaysian Airline Flight MH370 portrayed in tabloid and broadsheet newspapers by means of lexical choices (Nouns, Verbs and Adjectives)?
(2) How can the use of metaphorical expressions reveal the writers‘ opinion and attitude underlying in their writing?
Significance of the study
This study aims to enhance the field of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) by providing valuable findings, while also seeking to increase readers' awareness of the various types of information presented in news reports.
Research methodology
To uncover the underlying ideologies of reporters, Van Dijk's Semantic Discourse Analysis was utilized to examine news articles This analysis focused on Van Dijk's discourse structures, specifically assessing lexical style and rhetorical figures Lexical style involved the selection of positive and negative opinion words, while rhetorical figures highlighted the positive and negative attributes presented in the articles.
Organization of the research
The study consists of three parts They are:
Part A - Introduction - presents the rationale, scope, objectives, significance, general methodology, and organization of the study
Part B - Development - constitutes the main part and consists of three chapters
This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), highlighting Van Dijk's Semantic Discourse Analysis and the critical examination of news discourse It also contrasts the language used in broadsheet and tabloid newspapers Additionally, the chapter presents an overview of related studies, enriching the understanding of these concepts.
Chapter 2: Methodology and analytical procedures
This chapter presents the background to the event After that, the research approach, data collection, methodology and data analysis procedures are mentioned
This study is divided into two main sections: the first focuses on analyzing lexical choices in selected news articles, while the second examines the use of metaphors Through this dual analysis, the relationship between news reporters' opinions, attitudes, and their language use is revealed.
Part C - Conclusion - summarizes the main findings of the study Then suggestions for further research are offered
LITERATURE REVIEW
An overview of Critical Discourse Analysis
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) examines how language shapes societal dynamics, emphasizing its power in both written and spoken communication It posits that language serves as a vehicle for ideology, with linguistic activities functioning as essential social practices.
By analyzing different aspects of discourse, the relationship among language, power and ideology can be revealed
The theoretical foundation of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) has evolved through four distinct stages The initial concept was presented in the book "Language and Control" by Fowler et al in 1979 However, there was a stagnation in development from 1979 to 1985 The subsequent phase, characterized by self-reflection, emerged with the publications of Kress and Fowler between 1985 and beyond.
1987 From 1988 up to now, many other linguistic experts dug deep to this potential field, such as Norman Fairclough, Ruth Wodak, Van Dijk, etc
According to Huston (2002), CDA portrays the roles of language, which are
―forming and transmitting assumptions about what the world is and should be like‖ and ―maintaining or challenging existing power relations‖ In other
1 ―Discourses, Texts, Readers and the Pro-nuclear Arguments‖ (1985) by Gunther Kress
Roger Fowler's works, "Linguistic Criticism" (1986) and "Notes on Critical Linguistics" (1987), explore the relationship between language and ideology, highlighting how linguistic structures mediate power dynamics within society.
Fairclough conceptualizes language as a social semiotic that is shaped by social contexts and reflects social structures and practices Conversely, language also impacts society by shaping, maintaining, or altering social relationships Consequently, Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) seeks to explore the relationship between social variables and discourse composition, uncovering the underlying ideologies related to power dynamics This interaction between language and society is a reciprocal process, where texts are both socially produced and transmitted.
Discourse analysis, as defined by Fairclough (1989), focuses on the "unequally distributed" nature of power within social practices, events, and texts It aims to investigate how these elements are shaped by power relations and the struggles surrounding them Furthermore, Fairclough (2001) emphasizes that understanding the complex relationships between discourse and society is crucial, as this opacity contributes to the maintenance of power and hegemony.
Scholars like Van Dijk, Wodak, Meyer, and Coulthard align with Fairclough's perspective, emphasizing that language functions as a medium of domination and social force, legitimizing organized power relations Wodak and Meyer argue that Critical Linguistics aims to uncover implicit ideologies within overt propositions, while Van Dijk views Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as a crucial tool for assessing social and political dominance Coulthard notes that CDA scholars see it as their professional duty to investigate and clarify how power and discrimination are embedded in language Ultimately, CDA is politically motivated, with practitioners striving to transform society and combat discrimination based on sex, color, creed, age, or social class.
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) offers valuable insights into the interplay between language and ideology, addressing issues such as gender differences, racism, and political power This study employs CDA as its primary theoretical framework to critically analyze news discourse, exploring its potential impact on society.
Van Dijk‘s socio-cognitive approach to CDA
Van Dijk is a prominent figure in Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), focusing on the interplay between discourse, prejudice, and racism His early research examined how ethnic minorities are referenced in conversations and the ideological implications of these discussions He argues that the topics people choose to discuss reflect their mental frameworks and personal beliefs about ethnic issues Central to his analysis is the idea that speakers often engage in positive self-representation while portraying other groups negatively, highlighting a significant bias in discourse.
Van Dijk's approach to Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is termed socio-cognitive discourse analysis, focusing on the interplay between discourse, cognition, and society He defines discourse as a multifaceted communicative event that encapsulates a social context, involving participants and their attributes, along with the processes of production and reception (Van Dijk, 1998:3).
Social recognition is crucial for linking discursive and social structures, influencing how individuals communicate and interpret the social practices of others (Van Dijk, 1995a).
Recent research by Van Dijk clarifies a common misconception about Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), emphasizing that it is not merely a specialized method for conducting discourse analysis Instead, Van Dijk defines being critical as a mindset and attitude rather than a specific technique for analyzing text and conversation (Van Dijk, 2015) Consequently, CDA represents any discourse analysis conducted by critical scholars, positioning it more as a social or political movement aimed at addressing and challenging social inequality and domination.
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is not merely one research approach within discourse studies; instead, it serves as a critical lens applicable across various domains, including discourse grammar, conversation analysis, discourse semantics, pragmatics, rhetoric, stylistics, argumentation analysis, and multimodal discourse analysis (Van Dijk, 2015a:466).
At the core of Van Dijk's critical discourse analysis lies the concept of power, particularly the social power wielded by groups or institutions According to Van Dijk (2008), social power is defined in terms of control, where a group's ability to exert influence and shape social dynamics is a key indicator of its power.
Power is often defined by the ability to influence the actions and thoughts of others, which relies on access to valuable social resources like money, status, knowledge, and communication Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) aims to clarify these various forms of power and highlight their potential abuses, particularly in terms of domination Understanding how these resources are controlled is essential for recognizing the dynamics of power in society.
To effectively interpret discourse related to events, such as news reports or stories, it is essential to grasp how these events, actions, or situations are represented The structure of discourse—encompassing topics, arguments, metaphors, lexical choices, and rhetorical figures—can significantly shape the personal experiences of listeners and readers, often aligning with the intentions of the speakers or writers.
Van Dijk‘s Semantic Discourse Analysis
According to Van Dijk (1985), semantics is a component of a broader semiotic theory focused on meaningful, symbolic behavior The core concept of semantic theory is interpretation, which involves assigning objects of one kind (X) to another kind (Y) In this context, expressions, including words and sentences, are the objects receiving interpretations These interpretations typically assign various semantic objects, with meaning being the primary focus Therefore, a semantic theory of discourse aims to assign meanings to the expressions within that discourse.
Semantic discourse analysis focuses on examining the connections between sequences of sentences and the underlying propositions they represent It emphasizes how the meaning of these sequences derives from the meanings of their individual sentences or propositions Additionally, this analysis includes an extensional or referential aspect, revealing what specific entities or concepts the sequences of sentences in a discourse can refer to.
Van Dijk's theory analyzes textual meanings at two distinct levels The first level encompasses the meanings of words, word groups, clauses, and sentences as explored in linguistic and psycholinguistic frameworks, focusing on aspects like meaningfulness, referential interpretations, and relationships such as synonymy and entailment The second level addresses the global dimension of discourse, emphasizing the overall meanings of entire texts or significant text segments, including topics, themes, perspectives, and schematic structures.
Abstract semantic analysis is deeply rooted in cognitive and social contexts, highlighting that meaning and interpretation are shaped by language users rather than being inherent to the text Social knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, ideologies, and personal experiences significantly influence how media users perceive news reports These perceptions, in turn, affect the formation of situation models in memory, which encapsulate the subjective understanding of the events described in the text.
Structures of Semantic Discourse Analysis
To understand the underlying ideologies within a discourse, it is crucial to analyze its structures Van Dijk (1995b:143) points out that some discourse structures are quite clear Ideologies form the foundation of social judgments, and since ideologically influenced propositions frequently reflect opinion statements, the expression of these opinions and attitudes can reveal the ideological constraints at play.
The strategic pattern of lexical selection reveals that ingroups, including friends and allies, are often described positively, while outgroups, such as enemies or opponents, are depicted negatively This finding aligns with intergroup theory and social cognition research, highlighting how mental representations and underlying ideologies shape attitudes toward these groups This bias is evident not only in the adjectives and nouns used to characterize ingroups and outgroups but also in the complex relationships established between these groups and specific actions, objects, places, or events.
In "Ideological Discourse Analysis," Van Dijk identifies discourse structures that reveal positive and negative judgments about groups across various levels of text and conversation He emphasizes that the choice of opinion words significantly influences lexical style, while rhetorical devices like metaphors are utilized to highlight these positive and negative attributes (Van Dijk, 1995b:145).
Phonological structures (stress, pitch, volume, intonation) - graphical structures (headlines, bold characters)
Overall ordering and size (first and later, higher and lower, bigger and smaller, primacy and recency)
Syntactic structure (word order, topicalization, clausal relations: main and subordinate, fronted or embedded; split constructions)
Semantic structures (explicit vs implicit, detail and level of description, semantic macrostructures vs details)
Lexical style (positive vs negative opinion words)
Rhetoric (under- and overstatement, euphemism - for positive/negative meanings, metaphor - emphasizing positive/negative properties, litotes, etc.)
Schematic or superstructures (expressed or not in prominent conventional category, e.g., Headline or Conclusion; storytelling and argumentation)
Pragmatic (assertion vs denial; self-congratulation vs accusation)
Interactive (turn-taking: self-selection and dominance; topic maintenance and change; non-verbal communication: face, gestures, etc.)
List of discourse structures by Van Dijk (1995b:145)
Language and discourse possess a diverse array of structural possibilities that can highlight or downplay information, influencing ideologically controlled perceptions of ingroups and outgroups These structures serve not only to express ideological positions but also to enhance the persuasion-reception aspect of communication Consequently, discourse structures contribute to shaping mental models of events, with emphasized information often occupying a prominent role in these models In relation to ideologies, discourse structures fulfill a dual function: they enact underlying ideologies while simultaneously serving as effective tools for persuasion.
In this study, the researcher chose to follow Van Dijk‘s Semantic Discourse Analysis by focusing on investigating the lexical choices of Nouns, Verbs,
Adjectives and the use of metaphors in the selected news articles with the aim of finding out the opinions and attitudes underlying in the reports.
Critical Analysis of News Discourse
News primarily focuses on recent events and is defined as new information regarding occurrences that have just taken place, as noted in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (2008) It encompasses reports of these events in various media, including newspapers, television, and radio Moreover, news is characterized by its relevance to a significant audience, highlighting events that are deemed important or newsworthy This underscores that news not only reflects recent happenings but also emphasizes their impact on a large group of people.
News is the communication of the selected information The contents of news are not just facts about the world, but in a very general sense of ―beliefs‖,
Fowler (1991) argues that news is not merely a reflection of real events but rather a selective and transformative product that presents a skewed view of the world Since most events go unreported, the chosen narratives provide readers with a partial perspective, influenced by various political, economic, and social factors Consequently, the language used in news media is not neutral; it shapes public perception and understanding To grasp how news is produced and the values that shape its presentation, it is essential to examine the interplay between language and comprehension in society.
The representation of reality in news discourses varies across languages and countries, reflecting distinct worldviews Despite claims of objectivity and impartiality, critical discourse analysis (CDA) has challenged the notion of unbiased journalism Research has shown that journalistic discourse is characterized by specific textual features, production and consumption methods, and relationships with powerful social institutions These interconnected characteristics - language, production and consumption, and social relationships - are intricately linked, often making them difficult to distinguish.
Language of broadsheet newspapers and tabloid newspapers
To start with, it is widely known that the newspapers fall into two broad categories: the ‗popular‘ and ‗quality‘ press All the popular papers are
Tabloids, characterized by their smaller size, bold illustrations, and sensational writing style, prioritize mass entertainment, often focusing on gossip, emotion, and scandal while minimizing news content In contrast, quality newspapers, or broadsheets, are larger in format and emphasize comprehensive news coverage, political and economic analysis, and social and cultural issues.
Broadsheet: The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Independent, The Times, etc
Tabloids: The Mirror, The Star, The Daily Express, The Daily Mail, etc
Systemic-Functional grammar highlights the differences between spoken and written language, as well as between formal and informal styles Broadsheets typically exhibit characteristics aligned with formal, written language, while tabloids adopt a more spoken and informal tone.
Concerning the use of words between tabloids and broadsheets, it appears that
Tabloids tend to use more everyday language compared to broadsheets, highlighting the latter's prestigious quality This distinction emphasizes the formal and serious tone of broadsheets, in contrast to the informal and accessible nature of tabloids.
Spoken language typically features simpler syntax compared to the more complex structure of written language This distinction significantly affects the text's lexical density, with spoken language being lexically sparse and written language exhibiting greater lexical density.
The key distinction between formal and informal language lies in their emotional tone; informal language, often found in tabloids, is characterized by a high degree of attitude and emotion, whereas formal language, typically seen in broadsheets, maintains a more neutral and objective stance.
Reviews of related studies
The disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 on March 8, 2014, has sparked extensive media coverage and research into the language used in reporting the incident A comparative study by Rohizah (2014) analyzed 30 news reports from The Sunday Star (a UK newspaper) and The Mingguan (a Malaysian newspaper) published on March 16, 2014 The findings revealed that The Mingguan, being closely linked to the government, presented a positive portrayal of government sources and emphasized favorable responses from both Chinese reactions and Malaysian officials during the crisis.
The UK newspaper demonstrated a strong awareness of its connection to the Chinese community by highlighting the stories of Chinese-Malaysian victims Its coverage was marked by a commitment to independent and thorough reporting, setting it apart from the Malaysian newspaper's approach.
A conversation analysis of 13 press conference videos conducted by Maros and Nasharudin (2016) examined the dynamics of institutional interaction and power within discourse The study identified five mechanisms regulating turn-taking: pre-allocated turns, turn-allocation techniques, turn-taking cues, overlaps, and interruptions The findings indicated that these mechanisms, alongside the roles of participants and institutional frameworks, were instrumental in illustrating institutional power Ultimately, the analysis concluded that despite the tense circumstances surrounding the MH370 press conferences, turn-taking played a pivotal role in shaping both institutional interaction and the representation of power.
A study by Yao (2015) applied Scollon's media discourse analysis and Halliday's Systemic Functional Grammar to examine 18 articles from a Chinese and Malaysian newspaper, uncovering distinct discourse features and hidden ideologies The analysis revealed that the Malaysian newspaper presented a positive image of Malaysia's efforts in the search operation, while criticizing the aggressive behavior of Chinese relatives In contrast, the Chinese newspaper emphasized China's economic strength and active efforts in the search operation Ultimately, the research suggests that news reports in these two countries reflect differing ideological perspectives.
China and Malaysia are not transparent but constructed reality with their own ideological investment.
METHODOLOGY
Research questions
In tailoring the methodology for the research, it is beneficial to refer back to the two research questions posed in the first chapter, which are:
(1) How is the disappearance of Malaysian Airline Flight MH370 portrayed in tabloid and broadsheet newspapers by means of lexical choices (Nouns, Verbs and Adjectives)?
(2) How can the use of metaphorical expressions reveal the writers‘ opinion and attitude underlying in their writing?
Background information of the data
The disappearance of airplane MH370 captured global attention, drawing followers from around the world unlike any previous aviation incident This tragedy kept readers, commentators, and various audiences on edge as they eagerly awaited updates and the outcome of the search for the missing aircraft.
The global involvement of foreign military and search teams in the search for the missing MH370 aircraft has sparked widespread attention and speculation This incident has elicited a range of perspectives, from positive to negative, regarding its implications for Malaysia and its significance in world history.
News reporters employed diverse lexical features to convey information about the disappearance of the MH370 airplane This study aims to explore two key elements: lexical choices and metaphors utilized by newspapers to depict various facets of the incident.
Data collection
This thesis analyzes twenty genuine news reports on the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines MH370, sourced from two prominent UK newspapers: The Telegraph, a broadsheet, and The Mirror, a tabloid Each newspaper features ten selected articles dated from March, highlighting the contrasting journalistic approaches to this significant aviation mystery.
The main reason why these specific newspapers are selected is that they both are worldwide popular newspapers
The Telegraph is recognized as a leading national "newspaper of record" in the UK, known for its high-quality journalism and international reputation The BBC has praised it as "one of the world's great titles." As of now, The Daily Telegraph boasts the largest circulation among broadsheet newspapers in the UK and ranks as the sixth largest newspaper overall in the country.
The Daily Mirror, a British national daily tabloid newspaper established in 1903, has its articles available on the Telegraph Media Group's website, www.telegraph.co.uk, under the title The Telegraph.
3 Rajan, Amol (21 December 2016) "What does the future hold for the Daily Telegraph?‖ BBC
In the 21st century, The Mirror emerged as the UK's best-selling daily tabloid, largely attracting a mass working-class readership Its online presence can be found at www.mirror.co.uk While both newspapers differ in format and style, they also have contrasting political stances; The Telegraph leans conservative, whereas The Mirror has consistently supported the Labour Party This study hypothesizes that the two publications may report on the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight from differing perspectives, influenced by their political orientations, given that the incident affects not just Malaysia but also other nations, notably China.
To collect data for the study, the researcher followed a systematic approach, beginning with the selection of news reports from online news websites dated between March 8, 2014, and May 8, 2014, focusing on the two months following the incident This timeframe garnered significant media attention, resulting in a substantial number of related articles After eliminating repetitive content from The Mirror, the researcher carefully reviewed all selected articles and identified the top ten most newsworthy pieces from each site.
Research method
To uncover the underlying ideologies of reporters, Van Dijk's Semantic Discourse Analysis was utilized to analyze news articles This study focused on two out of nine key aspects.
4 Curtis, Bryan (25 October 2006) "Strange days at the Daily Telegraph" Slate
Lexical style (positive vs negative opinion words)
Rhetoric (under- and overstatement, euphemism - for positive/negative meanings, metaphor - emphasizing positive/negative properties, litotes, etc.)
Extracted from list of discourse structures by Van Dijk (1995b:145)
This study examines the lexical choices of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and metaphors in selected news articles to uncover the underlying opinions and attitudes present in the text.
Data analysis procedure
In the initial analysis phase, the text analysis tool Sporkforge is utilized to calculate the word count, sentence count, and lexical density This tool also identifies the most frequently occurring words Based on this data, the researcher categorizes the selected words into three classes: nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
In the text analysis process, lexical items related to air transport, flight names and statuses, common reporting verbs, proper nouns, conjunctions, determiners, prepositions, and auxiliary verbs are excluded due to their minimal semantic contribution The researcher focuses not only on word frequency but also on specific cases where word choice reflects the writers' attitudes Additionally, the analysis includes an examination of metaphors in news articles to uncover the encoded attitudes of the writers.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
Lexical choices
This part presents finding and discussions regarding research question 1
Research question 1: How is the disappearance of Malaysian Airline Flight MH370 portrayed in tabloid and broadsheet newspapers by means of lexical choices (Nouns, Verbs and Adjectives)?
In this study, the text analysis focuses on lexical items related to air transport, such as "plane," "flight," and "passengers," while excluding less meaningful words like common reporting verbs, proper nouns, conjunctions, determiners, prepositions, and auxiliary verbs The researcher categorizes the most frequent items by word class—nouns, verbs, and adjectives—and also examines specific instances where word choice significantly reflects the writers' attitudes.
Nouns are essential in news articles as they effectively convey the content and represent key topics Their prominence in newspaper headlines highlights their role in summarizing main ideas The repetition of specific nouns indicates the writer's focus and illustrates how the topic is portrayed in the article.
Figure 1: Most frequent Nouns in The Telegraph’s articles
Figure 2: Most frequent Nouns in The
The analysis of frequent nouns in articles from both newspapers reveals key topics of interest, including the detailed description of events, with terms like "search" appearing 60 times and "disappearance" 25 times Additionally, there is a focus on the unexplained aspects surrounding these events, highlighted by the use of words such as "mystery" (12 times), "theories" (14 times), and "question" (11 times) Furthermore, the emotional responses of victims' families are evident, with mentions of "grief" (4 times), "loss" (5 times), and "disaster" (6 times), alongside discussions about the potential for terrorism.
(hijacking/hijack – 17 times, passports (of two suspected passengers on board who used stolen passports to get on the flight) – 22 times and the
Iranians grief effort action loss mystery hijacking disaster investigator details families authorities countries passports government disappearance search
0 10 20 30 40 suicide abduction clue possibility hunt lead passports mystery military evidence question hijack disappearance contact sign theories search responsibility of governments (authorities – 9 times, government – 12 times, action – 5 times)
In textual analysis, the occurrence and distribution of verbs in news articles offer valuable insights into the type and content of the articles This research posits that the collective set of verbs in a document serves as a conceptual map of the events and actions, similar to how nouns represent entities The following charts illustrate the most common verbs extracted from the source data.
Figure 3: Most frequent Verbs in The Telegraph’s articles
Figure 4: Most frequent Verbs in The Mirror’s articles
The analysis of the two lists of most frequent verbs highlights the primary actions that captured writers' attention, notably in event descriptions with "crash" and "vanish" each appearing 23 times, and "happen" noted 15 times Additionally, the verb "trace" was used 4 times, emphasizing the focus on searching operations.
0 5 10 15 reveal ensure stabilize infer recover take advantage of turn out appear fail determine examine confirm trace vanish crash stolen seem
In recent discussions, the focus has been on the emerging theories surrounding various incidents, particularly the possibility of terrorism Key terms such as "attack," "stolen," and "involve" have been frequently examined, suggesting a rising concern about security The repetition of words like "believe," "seem," and "reveal" indicates a collective effort to understand the underlying causes and implications of these events As investigations continue, the need to confirm details and assess the potential for distress remains paramount, emphasizing the urgency to address these pressing issues.
Adjectives serve as a crucial tool for evaluation, significantly impacting how readers and listeners perceive the speaker's or writer's attitudes and emotions Their usage enhances the subjectivity of the language, often more effectively than modal verbs and adverbs, thereby providing deeper insights into the communicator's perspective (Wiebe et al., 2001).
Figure 5: Most frequent Adjectives in The Telegraph’s articles
Figure 6: Most frequent Adjectives in
In this study, Adjectives were mainly used to express writers‘ attitudes and feelings towards the following topics: the event (extraordinary – 6 times, sudden – 7 times), the reasons (catastrophic – 4 times, unknown – 5 times,
0 5 10 15 antagonized conventional histrionic sophisticated extraordinary confusing remote catastrophic official deliberate unknown official little lost long
The article highlights the challenges of navigating a rapidly evolving landscape, marked by consistent and deliberate changes that can often feel overwhelming and confusing As commercial interests divert attention, reactions can become violent, reflecting a growing frustration among those feeling lost in this extraordinary shift The juxtaposition of old and new elements creates a sophisticated environment that demands adaptability and resilience in the face of sudden and powerful transformations.
The storytelling approach significantly influences how narratives are conveyed, revealing the storytellers' ideologies This research focuses on analyzing five key topics to illustrate how reporters utilize specific lexical choices to communicate their perspectives to readers.
Both news agencies focused on the disappearance of the flight, but T writers infused their reports with subjective language, utilizing adverbs like "mysteriously," adjectives such as "bizarre," and adverbials like "with barely a trace." In contrast, M writers maintained a neutral tone, simply reporting the incident without any emotional undertones.
[T1] ―… Malaysia Airlines mysteriously vanished from the skies…‖
[T2] ―Nothing quite makes sense about the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370…‖
[T4] ―… it seems bizarre that a huge airliner with 239 people on board could vanish with barely a trace…‖
[T9] ―… determine how a modern airliner could vanish so mysteriously‖
[M1] ― it plunged 650ft and changed direction before it vanished…‖
[M2] ―It is almost 48 hours since flight MH370 went missing‖
[M3] ―… it lost communication with air traffic control…‖
[M4] ―… only hours before flight MH370 disappeared‖
Table 1: The description of event presented in both newspapers
The search operation for the missing plane was extensively detailed by the Telegraph, highlighting the use of advanced and sophisticated equipment In contrast, the Mirror's coverage lacked clarity on the search methods employed The use of positive descriptors like "big," "international," and "sophisticated" suggests that the significant resources and modern technology involved may enhance the chances of locating the aircraft.
[T1] ―A big, international search is underway‖
[T9] ―New analysis and sophisticated mapping technology have narrowed the search for the missing Malaysian airliner‖
Incorporating diverse elements into news reports enhances their content and piques readers' curiosity, encouraging them to delve deeper into the story In contrast, merely presenting the event can result in a lackluster article that fails to engage the audience.
3.1.2 Choice of negative words a Reasons for missing
The disappearance of MH370 remains a profound mystery, prompting numerous theories and conspiracies Both The Telegraph and The Mirror discussed the concept of "deliberate action," suggesting the involvement of individuals or organizations in this enigmatic case While The Telegraph adhered to mainstream theories, The Mirror leaned towards the conspiratorial narratives circulating on social media.
The deliberate actions of disabling the Boeing 777's communications and diverting its course indicate that significant knowledge and skill were involved, leading to heightened scrutiny of the pilot and co-pilot.
On March 15th, the Malaysian prime minister attributed the incident to "deliberate action," raising suspicions about the pilot or co-pilot's involvement Experts and commentators have proposed various theories, ranging from an accident to potential suicidal behavior on the flight deck, alongside intricate conspiracies that seem more fitting for a disaster film.
Metaphorical expressions
This part presents finding and discussions regarding research question 2
Research question 2: How can the use of metaphorical expressions reveal the writers‘ opinion and attitude underlying in their writing?
Metaphors in newspaper articles serve as a crucial tool for enhancing readers' comprehension of language and discourse organization This figurative language not only enriches the text but also plays a significant role in shaping thoughts and influencing public perception The impact of metaphorical language in news reporting is explored and analyzed in the following sections.
[T1] ―With 239 souls on board—12 crew and 227 passengers from 14 different countries—it was last heard from about 120 miles off the coast of Malaysia‖
The term "soul" can be perplexing, as it often refers to both the animating force of the body and the essence of consciousness In certain contexts, it highlights the spiritual aspect of individuals In this article, the phrase "239 souls" is employed to convey the vital life force, reflecting the writer's profound sadness for the victims.
It also indicated that the writer believed they had all been gone, and there could be no sign of survival
[M1] ―There were no reports of bad weather and no sign why the Rolls-Royce
Trent engine-powered plane would have vanished from radar screens about an hour after it took off.‖
The comparison of the aircraft's capabilities to the Rolls-Royce Trent engine highlights the exceptional quality of the missing plane, suggesting that such a powerful aircraft could not have disappeared without a trace.
[M1] ―My house has become a place of mourning This is Allah‘s will We have to accept it.‖
―a place of mourning‖ – this phase emphasized on the tragic loss of the victims‘ families They considered it as the will of Allah – their mightiest God
It could be implied that Malaysian people are greatly influenced by their religion and this tragedy gave them no other choice but to accept it
[T1] ―While it is obviously premature to state anything for sure, the few known facts allow us to paint a preliminary picture‖
―a preliminary picture‖ – this metaphor is meant to portray the general situation when there was no concrete evidence Everything was all just assumptions
[T3] ―As two Iranians were found to be travelling on false passports several days ago, all the passengers‘ backgrounds have, presumably, already been well scrutinised.‖
[T4] ―Though this does not appear to have been a factor in MH370‘s disappearance, two Iranians on board had been travelling with passports that were registered as stolen with Interpol.‖
[T2] ―…the men travelling on a stolen European passport is likely to have been a terrorist‖
―Iranians‖ – as been discussed above, this metaphor is used to refer to the idea of terrorism The writer even ironically regarded these two ―Iranians‖ as
―two of the passengers were not who they seemed to be‖
The airline industry takes significant measures to minimize risks and uncertainties associated with flying, employing advanced technology and stringent procedures, often implemented in response to past disasters.
The phrase "in the wake of" is commonly used to describe the aftermath of an event, originating from sailing terminology that refers to the disturbance left in the water by a moving ship This metaphor highlights the consequences of actions, as seen in the context of disasters, such as the Malaysia Airlines incident, which served as a cautionary tale for other nations The event exposed significant security lapses, including the boarding of individuals with stolen passports To mitigate the risk of terrorism, it is imperative for all countries to enhance their security measures.
Speculations surrounding the reasons for the equipment shutdown range from terrorism and pilot suicide to an onboard electrical fire necessitating the shutdown of non-essential electronics While these remain mere guesses, the ability for pilots to disable onboard equipment is crucial, particularly due to the potential threat of fires.
The phrase "threat of fires" is ambiguous, as it can refer to both electrical fires and the risk of bomb-related incidents By employing this metaphor, the authors subtly allude to the underlying implications of terrorism in their narrative.
[M1] ―Chinese relatives waiting in Beijing Airport are furious at the lack of information and told reporters they have been treated ―worse than dogs‖ by Malaysia Airline.‖
The phrase "worse than dogs" reflects the deep resentment felt by the Chinese community towards the Malaysian government's treatment of them This expression highlights the severity of their experiences, suggesting that the actions taken by the Malaysian authorities were not only harsh but also intolerable Such sentiments illustrate the profound emotional impact of the government's policies on the Chinese population in Malaysia.
In the article, the writer employs metaphor to highlight the contrasting reactions of Malaysian and Chinese people Malaysians are depicted as resigned individuals who accept their fate, while the Chinese are portrayed as perpetually angry, often exhibiting impoliteness and a lack of self-control This juxtaposition underscores the differing cultural attitudes and emotional responses between the two groups.
[M10] ―The data's release had become a rallying cry for many of the families, who have accused the Malaysian government of holding back information.‖
The phrase "a rallying cry" encapsulates the moment when families of the victims received critical search data from the Malaysian government, prompting them to confront and come to terms with the fate of their loved ones.
It can be concluded that these metaphor expressions play an important role in conveying the writers‘ opinions and attitudes towards many aspects of the event
Recapitulation
This study utilized Van Dijk's Semantic Discourse Analysis to explore the ideologies of reporters by examining twenty news articles from The Telegraph and The Mirror The analysis focused on discourse structures, assessing lexical style through the selection of positive and negative opinion words, while also evaluating rhetorical figures that highlight positive and negative attributes.
In the light of critical discourse analysis, the research has yielded some findings
Broadsheet newspapers typically feature a higher number of content words per clause compared to tabloid newspapers This suggests that broadsheet writers may incorporate more ideological hints into their writing than their tabloid counterparts.
Secondly, with regards to lexical choices, basing on the frequency of Nouns,
Verbs, and Adjectives used in the articles, the researcher divided the analysis into two parts
The choice of positive language significantly influenced how the disappearance of the flight was reported by different news agencies Broadsheet writers enhanced their narratives with adverbs and adjectives, adding a layer of positivity and intrigue, while tabloid writers presented a more straightforward account without any emotional undertones This use of varied linguistic elements not only enriched the news content but also piqued readers' curiosity, encouraging them to delve deeper into the mystery In contrast, a simple reporting style may fail to engage readers, potentially rendering the article dull and unmemorable.
Both newspapers speculated about potential individuals or organizations responsible for the mysterious disappearance, with the broadsheet adhering to mainstream theories, while the tabloid leaned towards social media-driven conspiracies.
A notable observation regarding the reactions of involved parties is the Chinese government's strategy to shift blame onto the Malaysian government, creating a significant public relations scandal This tactic aimed to divert global attention from potential terrorism concerns linked to China Interestingly, this issue was primarily covered by broadsheet newspapers, which reflected their critical stance through their choice of language, while tabloid newspapers largely overlooked the topic.
Broadsheet newspapers frequently used the term "Iranians" when discussing two cases involving lost passports believed to be linked to Iranian individuals While the articles did not explicitly label these individuals as terrorists, the emphasis on their nationality suggested an implicit connection between Iranians and terrorism In contrast, tabloid newspapers chose not to mention the nationality of the suspects at all.
Broadsheet newspapers in Malaysia exhibit a critical stance towards the government's actions, highlighting political issues in detail, whereas tabloid writers provide only brief mentions of criticisms, often steering clear of political discussions altogether This contrast suggests that broadsheet publications focus more on political-oriented topics, while tabloids prefer to avoid them.
Different newspapers employ metaphors uniquely to convey their messages Broadsheet newspapers utilize metaphors to express profound sorrow for the victims, illustrate situations lacking concrete evidence, discuss terrorism, and caution other nations to heed the lessons from the Malaysia Airlines incident In contrast, tabloid newspapers use metaphorical language to highlight the exceptional quality of the missing aircraft, suggest that such a powerful plane could not disappear unnoticed, depict the tragic impact on victims' families, reflect the significant influence of religion on the Malaysian populace, capture the intense reactions of the Chinese community, and portray the struggles of families coming to terms with their losses.
Limitations of the study
The study's limitations include the focus on only two aspects of semantic discourse analysis—lexical choices and metaphorical expressions—suggesting that a broader exploration could enhance its comprehensiveness Additionally, the analysis was based on just twenty news reports, which restricts the generalizability of the findings to the characteristics of articles in both broadsheet and tabloid newspapers.
Recommendations for further studies
From the limitations mentioned above, further studies can be conducted on the news discourse in some other aspects such as passivization, nominalization, modes of sentences, etc
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Appendix 1: List of articles from The Telegraph
T1 What happened to Malaysian Airlines flight MH370?
T5 The sound of silence 20 MAR 2014
T6 Lost and will it ever be found? 29 MAR 2014
T7 The search for MH370 - Plumbing new depths 09 APR 2014
T8 The geopolitics of MH370 24 APR 2014
T9 The search for MH370 - Deep secrets 02 MAY 2014 T10 Malaysia Airlines - Much atwitter about nothing 05 MAY 2014
Appendix 2: List of articles from The Mirror
M1 Are terrorists behind Malaysian Airline crash?
Fears grow after it emerges two passengers were using stolen passports
M2 Ten key questions about Malaysia Airlines flight
MH370 as search for missing passenger jet continues
M3 Missing Malaysia Airlines flight: Eight
CONSPIRACY theories on what's happened to the missing plane
M4 Did pilot hijack missing plane HIMSELF in political protest? Fears over Captain Shah's links to
M5 Crew 'died trying to save passengers from burning plane' by turning jet to nearest airport
M6 Is this Indian Ocean wreckage from missing
M7 Missing Malaysia Airlines plane 'might never be found' warns Air Chief Marshall in charge of search
M8 Missing flight MH370: More powerful sonar used to find the Titanic needed to find plane
M9 Missing flight MH370: Malaysia denies 11 arrested terrorists with Al Qaeda links are being questioned over vanished jet
M10 Missing flight MH370: Malaysia releases raw satellite data as hunt for plane continues
Appendix 3: A sample of analyzed articles
The disappearance of a Malaysian jet highlights the need to reform Mar 19th 2014 by K.N.C
Air travel is remarkably safe, with individuals being approximately 180 times more likely to die in a car than in an airplane, as reported by America's National Safety Council This heightened safety in aviation stems from the airline industry's commitment to minimizing risks through advanced technology and stringent procedures, often implemented in response to past disasters.
The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 traveling from Kuala
The disappearance of a flight from Lumpur to Beijing on March 8th highlights ongoing concerns about airline safety In an era dominated by big data, where our smartphones monitor our every move and intelligence agencies have access to our daily activities, it is perplexing that a large aircraft carrying 239 passengers could vanish without a trace.
The incident highlights significant security vulnerabilities in air travel that need urgent attention to restore public confidence, despite the unknown reasons behind the flight path alteration.
The disappearance of MH370 highlighted the need for continuous tracking of commercial airliners, as many assumed that planes were in constant communication with ground stations for safety and navigation While this is generally true over land, aircraft flying over vast oceans only send occasional data bursts to satellites, primarily engine status updates, without a requirement for continuous contact The aviation industry aims to upgrade to a GPS-based radar system to enhance tracking, but this implementation has faced delays and should be prioritized immediately.
Approximately 40 minutes after takeoff, MH370 "went dark" when two critical communications systems were mysteriously disabled: the secondary radar, which tracks the aircraft, and ACARS, responsible for sending updates and messages The reasons behind this deactivation have sparked various speculations, including terrorism, pilot suicide, or an electrical fire necessitating the shutdown of non-essential electronics; however, the true cause remains unknown.
Pilots should have the ability to disable onboard equipment, particularly to mitigate fire threats In such instances, the aircraft must automatically issue an alert to notify authorities of the system shutdown, enabling them to track the plane using conventional radar, which displays it as a blip without identifying information Implementing these two reforms would have ensured that air traffic control was immediately alerted to any issues when the transponder was turned off, allowing for continuous tracking of the aircraft's location.
Although it is unlikely that the stolen passports of two Iranians on board MH370 contributed to the flight's disappearance, it highlights a significant oversight in airport security Prior to the incident, many assumed that all passports were thoroughly screened before departure, but this assumption proved to be incorrect This situation raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of passport verification processes in aviation security.