A critical discourse analysis on english women cartoons

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HANOI OPEN UNIVERSITY M.A THESIS A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS ON ENGLISH WOMEN CARTOONS (PHÂN TÍCH DIỄN NGÔN PHÊ PHÁN TRONG TRANH BIẾM HỌA VỀ PHỤ NỮ CÓ PHỤ ĐỀ BẰNG TIẾNG ANH) NGUYEN THI OANH Hanoi, 2016 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HANOI OPEN UNIVERSITY M.A THESIS A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS ON ENGLISH WOMEN CARTOONS (PHÂN TÍCH DIỄN NGƠN PHÊ PHÁN TRONG TRANH BIẾM HỌA VỀ PHỤ NỮ CÓ PHỤ ĐỀ BẰNG TIẾNG ANH) NGUYEN THI OANH Field: English Language Code: 60220201 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Ph.D Hanoi, 2016 DECLARATION I, the undersigned, hereby certify my authority of the study project report entitled: “A Critical Discourse Analysis on English Women Cartoons” Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the MA Degree in English linguistics at Faculty of Post Graduate Studies, Hanoi Open University The substance of this thesis has not, wholly or partially, been submitted for degree to any other university or institution Ha Noi, 2016 Nguyen Thi Oanh Approved by Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Ph.D Date …………………………………… i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to express my greatest gratitude to my supervisor, PhD Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, for her continuous assistance, enormous helpful advice, enlightening guidance and encouragement without which my thesis would not have been successfully completed I also wish to acknowledge my sincere thanks to the Head, lectures and staff of the Faculty of Post Graduate Studies, Hanoi Open University, for their concern, lessons and support A special word of thanks goes to my brother, who did spare his time during the process of collecting English women cartoons from the Internet, journals, and magazines as well as help me understand more about women events Without his help, this case study would have been impossible Last but not least, a word of appreciation to my beloved husband for his being beside me all the time, giving me encouragement and best conditions for my completing the research Certainly, slips-up and errors are unavoidable Therefore, I am very thankful to receive remarks from my teachers and relatives so that my studies in the future will be more successful ii ABSTRACT This thesis was written in an attempt to uncover the political opinions embedded in English Cartoons Besides, thesis the also aims to help readers of English interpret and understand conversational implicature of English Cartoons The case study is carried out in five chapters: The first is introduction; the second is literature reviews on critical discourse analysis, English women cartoons and cohesive devices, the third is about methodology, the four is findings and discussion, and conclusion is the last chapter To carry out this research, the writer collected 55 cartoons that subjects were to interpret They made clear from the data analysis For one thing, women cartoons express the cartoonists’ critical opinions on women issues, which show the hidden power in media discourse For another thing, readers of English faced many problems during the interpreting process involved the lack of knowledge, little experience to exploit all features of context and the interference of native culture, etc It may follow the suggestions that readers should try to interpret and understand implicature of cartoons To exploit this study, the writer used such methods as descriptive, statistical and analytical In the end, the research also suggests further studies iii LIST OF TABLES Table 4.1.1 Reference in English women cartoons……………………… 36 Table 4.1.2 Substitution in English women cartoons …………………… 40 Table 4.1.3 Ellipsis in English women cartoons ………………………… 45 Table 4.1.4 Conjunction in English women cartoons ……………… ……49 Table 4.1.5 The grammatical cohesive devices …………………………… 50 Table 4.2.1 Reiteration ………………………………………………….… 53 Table 4.2.2 Lexical cohesive devices ………………………………………54 Table 4.3 Grammatical and lexical cohesive devices …………………… 61 6iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS E.g Example i.e That is CDA Critical Discourse Analysis REP Repetition COL Collocation N Noun NP Noun phrase p Page 7v TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION …………………………………………………… … i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………………………………………… ii ABSTRACT ………………………………………………………….… iii LIST OF TABLES ……………………………………………… …… iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ………………………………… …… v TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………… …… vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale of the study 1.2 Aims of the Study 1.3 Objectives of the study 1.4 Scope of the Study 1.5 Significance of the study 1.6 Organization of the Study CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Review of previous studies 2.2 Review of theoretical background 2.2.1 Critical discourse analysis 2.2.1.1 Definitions of critical discourse analysis 2.2.1.2 Principles and aims of CDA 2.2.2 Women cartoons and their comments 2.2.2.1 Women cartoons 2.2.2.2 Women cartoons’ cartoons 2.2.3 Concepts of cohesion 2.2.4 Cohesive devices 10 2.2.4.1 Grammatical cohesive devices 12 2.2.4.2 Lexical cohesive devices 20 vi CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 24 3.1 Research orientations 24 3.1.1 Research questions 24 3.1.2 Research setting 24 3.1.3 Research approach 24 3.1.4 Data-related issues/criteria for intended data collection 25 3.2 Research methods 25 3.2.1 Major methods 25 3.2.2 Supporting methods 26 3.2.3 Data collection instruments 26 3.2.4 Data analysis techniques 27 3.3 Summary 28 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS ANH DISCUSSION 29 4.1 Grammatical cohesive devices in the English women cartoons’ comments 29 4.1.1 References in English women cartoons’ comments 29 4.1.1.1 Personal references in English women cartoons’ comments 29 4.1.1.2 Demonstrative reference in English women cartoons’ comments 33 4.1.1.3 Comparative reference in English women cartoons’ comments 34 4.1.2 Substitution in English women cartoons’ comments 36 4.1.2.1 Nominal substitution 36 4.1.2.2 Verbal substitution 37 4.1.2.3 Clausal substitution 38 4.1.3 Ellipsis in English women cartoons’ comments 40 4.1.3.1 Nominal ellipsis 40 4.1.3.2 Verbal ellipsis 41 4.1.3.3 Clausal ellipsis 43 4.1.4 Conjunction in English women cartoons’ comments 45 4.1.4.1 Additive Conjunction 45 9vii 4.1.4.2 Adversative Conjunction 46 4.1.4.3 Causal Conjunction 47 4.1.4.4 Temporal Conjunction 48 4.2 Lexical cohesive devices in English women cartoons’ comments 51 4.2.1 Reiteration in English women cartoons’ comments 51 4.2.1.1 Repetition 51 4.2.1.2 Synonym 52 4.2.1.3 Superordinate 52 4.2.3 Collocation in English women cartoons 53 4.3 Interpreting English women cartoons’ comments 55 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION 62 1.Conclusion 62 Limitations 62 Recommendations 63 REFERENCES 64 APPENDIX 66 viii 10 Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) Implicature - Endophora reference - I’ve never Power is more - Exophoric reference worked for a important than woman titles for wome …should I call you DEBBIE or MS ENRIGHT - You can refer to me as: “She who must be obeyed!” Cartoon 31 NO MAN’S LAND Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) - Clausal ellipsis Implicature There is no Men are man’s land powerless here Cartoon 32 “Remember when I walked past your desk this morning and didn’t fire you? In today’s economy, that counts as a raise and promotion.” 85 Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) Implicature - Clausal ellipsis “Do you Employees’ - Temporal and additive remember working conjunctions when I walked behaviors decide - Clausal substitution past your desk their position this morning and I didn’t fire you? In today’s economy, that counts as a raise and promotion.” Cartoon 33 I’LL HAVE A BIG BONUS PLEASE Big think Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) - Clausal ellipsis Implicature - I’ll have a big Women bonus please sometimes have - There is big further sight think than men in work 86 Cartoon 34 “Look out, here comes the old man.” Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) Collocation “Look out, the The badly- reference old man is dressed lady - Exophoric reference coming here.” looks like an old - Demonstrative - Verbal ellipsis Implicature man Cartoon 35 - Try to hold your audience attention when giving a presentation - Any comments so far? - Bill’s asleep Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting (full devices form) Implicature - Clausal ellipsis - We try to hold The woman find - Temporal conjunction your audience the man’s guide attention when inefficient we are giving a presentation - Are there any comments so far? - Bill’s asleep 87 Cartoon 36 ‘WHY IS IT? YOU CAN WORK HARD ALL DAY LONG BUT WHEN THE BOSS WALKS BY YOU’RE GOOFING OFF.” Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) - Adversative and - Collocation Implicature ‘WHY IS IT? The woman’s temporal conjunctions YOU CAN working attitude - Clausal substitution WORK HARD depends on her ALL DAY boss’s LONG BUT appearance WHEN THE BOSS WALKS BY YOU’RE GOOFING OFF.” Cartoon 37 - LET’S WAIT AND BE SURPRISED - AND AS A BONUS, NO ONE WILL BUY US ANYTHING PINK OR BABY BLUE! Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) - Clausal ellipsis Implicature - Let’s wait and The couple 88 - Additive, adversative we will be desires their conjunction surprised baby’s birth - And (it is) as a bonus, no one will buy us anything pink or baby blue! Cartoon 38 DO NOT CHECK EMAILS DO NOT CHECK EMAILS DO NOT CHECK EMAILS TIME OFF FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting (full devices form) - Nominal ellipsis -Repetition I not check The woman mails was stressed I not check in work mails I not check mails Cartoon 39 WOMEN’S RIGHT WOMEN’S RIGHT BOOT! RELIGION 89 Implicature Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting (full devices form) - Clausal ellipsis Implicature - Repetition There is women’s Women’s right isn’t allowed to right There is women’s exist in that society right I (will) boot it! There is little women’s right in this religion Cartoon 40 Oh she?! …she doesn’t work, she’s a housewife Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon interpreting Implicatur devices cohesive (full form) e devices - Clausal ellipsis - Repetition Oh Is that she?! …she A - Endophora reference -Collocation doesn’t work, she’s a woman’s housewife job may be guessed through their appearanc e 90 Cartoon 41 MEG 1980 MEG 1981 MEG 1987 Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon interpreting devices cohesive (full form) Implicature devices - Clausal ellipsis - Repetition MEG was in 1980 Women’s MEG was in 1981 beauty MEG was in 1987 changed through time Cartoon 42 Law Against Domestic Violence Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon interpreting implicatur devices cohesive (full form) e devices - Clausal ellipsis - collocation This is the law Men have Against Domestic to stop Violence mistreatin g women 91 Cartoon 43 PLEASE TRY TO BE MORE TACTFUL WITH YOUR CO-WORKERS… TACT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN’T WITTY ENOUGH TO BE SARCASTIC… Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) - Comparative reference Implicature - Please try to This woman’s be more tactful behavior seems with your co- to be impolite to workers … her co-workers - Tact is for people who aren’t witty enough to be sarcastic … Cartoon 44 “Forsake all other – WHAT all other?” Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) 92 Implicature - Clausal ellipsis - Repetition “They should They should forsake all forget all other other – things to start a WHAT are new marriage all other?” life Cartoon 45 “TRUE, HARD WORK HAS NEVER HURT ME – OH, SARCASM!” Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting (full devices form) - Clausal ellipsis Implicature “It is true (that) Her hard work has husband never hurt me – wounds Oh, It’s her sarcasm!” Cartoon 46 Keeping him in hot water doesn’t make a husband tender Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting (full devices form) 93 Implicature Endophora and Keeping him in We should comparative references hot water find a suitable doesn’t make a way to behave husband tender with a husband Cartoon 47 - You know, since he bought the Ferrari my husband has just looked so young and trim - He sure has! Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) Implicature Endophora reference - You know, Women are - Temporal conjunction since he bought distrustful Nominal ellipsis the Ferrari my husband has just looked so young and trim - He sure has another woman! Cartoon 48 CAN YOU IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT SARCASM? YEAH, RIGHT WHY DON’T WE JUST DO THAT FOR A FEW DAYS? 94 Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon Implicatur devices cohesive interpreting (full e devices form) - Clausal ellipsis - Can you The - Clausal substitution imagine a world woman without wants a sarcasm? peaceful - Yeah, it’s life right Why don’t we just that for a few days? Cartoon 49 YOU DON’T LOOK 60 BUT YOU USED TO! “I SUPPOSE I MUST BE GRATEFUL HE REMEMBERS MY BIRTHDAY AT ALL!” Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) Implicature - Verbal ellipsis You don’t look The man - Verbal substitution 60 but you didn’t use - Adversative used to look to Conjunction 60! remember her birthday 95 Cartoon 50 “I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S WORSE – MY RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME OR HER RESTLESS MOUTH ….” Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) Implicature - Verbal ellipsis I don’t know Men don’t - Comparative reference what’s worse – like - Additive My restless leg talkative Conjunction syndrome (is women worse) or her restless mouth (is worse) Cartoon 51 “I’ve always been a one-man woman, Gerald, and for the past four years it hasn’t been you.” Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) Implicature - Clausal substitution “I’ve always Women are Endophora reference been a one- supposed to - Additive conjunction man woman, be faithful 96 Gerald, and for the past four years it hasn’t been you.” Cartoon 52 Oh, and also doing the laundry What?! That’s women’s work! Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon Implicature devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) - Clausal ellipsis Oh, and your Housework is - Additive conjunction work is also supposed to - Clausal substitution doing the be women’s laundry duties What (are you saying)?! That’s women’s work! Cartoon 53 PREGNANT & UNWEDD… THEN …NOW STONE HER!! BLOG HER!! 97 Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting (full devices form) Implicature - Clausal ellipsis Women are Women, - Additive conjunction pregnant and pregnant and - Exophoric reference unwedded unwedded, (It was) then … have been They threw consulting in stones at her!! society (It is) now They have a blog about her!! Cartoon 54 “I retired from work but housework has not retired from me.” Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) -Collocation “I retired from Women are work but supposed to housework has housework not retired even though from me.” they are old - Adversative conjunction Implicature or young 98 Cartoon 55 No Housework Day Grammatical cohesive Lexical Cartoon devices cohesive interpreting devices (full form) - Verbal ellipsis No housework She is tired of day is housework interesting 99 Implicature ... mainly on graphics and social context and language Cartoons are a very potential and appealing source of material because in cartoons, people have a freedom to employ pragmatic strategies that... Discourse Analysis and Conversation Analysis, Discourse and Society, 10 (4), pp.459-450 Up to now, there have been some researches about cartoons, such as Abiola, F J (2011) A pragmatic analysis. .. with connection word used Based on Halliday and Hasan explanation, they divide the lexical cohesion into two categories, reiteration and collocation a Reiteration Reiteration is a form of lexical