A critical discourse analysis of Chinese and Vietnamese online media coverage of the East Sea dispute

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST- GRADUATE STUDIES NGUYỄN ĐẶNG MAI LINH A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF CHINESE AND VIETNAMESE ONLINE MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE EAST SEA DISPUTE Phân tích diễn ngơn phê phán báo điện tử Việt Nam Trung Quốc đưa tin tranh chấp biển Đông M.A MINOR PROGRAM THESIS Field: English Linguistics Code: 60220201 HANOI, 2017 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST- GRADUATE STUDIES NGUYỄN ĐẶNG MAI LINH A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF CHINESE AND VIETNAMESE ONLINE MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE EAST SEA DISPUTE Phân tích diễn ngôn phê phán báo điện tử Việt Nam Trung Quốc đưa tin tranh chấp biển Đông M.A MINOR PROGRAM THESIS Field: English Linguistics Code: 60220201 Supervisor: Prof Dr Hoàng Văn Vân HANOI, 2017 DECLARATION OF AUTHORSHIP I hereby declare that the thesis entitled “A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF CHINESE AND VIETNAMESE ONLINE MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE EAST SEA DISPUTE” is the result of my own study It was conducted with scientific guidance of Prof Dr Hoàng Văn Vân The data and conclusions of the study presented in the thesis have never been published in any form Post-graduate student Nguyễn Đặng Mai Linh i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not be fulfilled without the help of many people, and I would like to show my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has taught me, inspired me, challenged me, and supported me throughout the realization of this thesis I would like to express my deep gratitude towards my supervisor, Prof Dr Hoàng Văn Vân, for his constant and invaluable assistance without which my study would be far from finished I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all my lecturers and staffs at the Faculty of Post-graduate Studies, the University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University of Hanoi whose support and consideration have enabled me to pursue the course Last but not least, my sincere thanks go to my beloved family and my close friends for their love, encouragement, and support while I was conducting this research Hanoi, April 2017 Nguyễn Đặng Mai Linh ii ABSTRACT This study is a critical discourse analysis of Chinese and Vietnamese online media coverage of the East Sea dispute from May 1, 2014 to July 16, 2014 A critical discourse analysis was made to delineate the contrasting representations of China and Vietnam With the purpose of discerning the underlying ideologies of the reporters, Fairclough‟s CDA framework and Halliday‟s systemic-functional theory were used to analyze the news reports The study just focused on some linguistic features of the text In terms of lexical choice, only overwording was analyzed Then with respect to grammatical analysis, transitivity was scrutinized The researcher made an attempt to illustrate the relationship between language, ideology and political stance The findings showed that the underlying ideologies hidden in the news discourse revolved around “us” and “them” side The online media coverage of both China and Vietnam intended to present the positive selfrepresentation while disparaging the other-representation In other words, their own country was depicted in favorable light as a rational, peace-loving, law-abiding country Meanwhile, the opponent was portrayed as an aggressor who acted brashly, illegally in the law-based community iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Meaning A Actor Att Attribute C China Car Carrier E Existent G Goal Id Identified In Initiator Ir Identifier O Other parties P Phenomenon Pb Behavioral process Pm Material process Pmen Mental process Pr Relational process Pv Verbal process Px Existential process S Sayer Sen Senser T Target V Vietnam Ver Verbiage iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Interpretation stage 10 Figure 2: Explanation stage 11 Figure 3: The distribution of processes in Vietnamese news and Chinese news 19 Figure 4: The distribution of Actors in the material processes 21 Figure 5: The distribution of Goals in the material processes 23 Figure 6: The distribution of Sayers in the verbal processes 25 Figure 7: The distribution of the relational processes 28 v LIST OF TABLES Table 1:The main themes in Vietnamese online news coverage 33 Table 2:The main themes in Chinese online news coverage 33 Table 3: The frequency of inter-related words to sovereignty in Vietnamese online news coverage 35 Table 4: The frequency of inter-related words to sovereignty in Chinese online news coverage 35 Table 5: The frequency of inter-related words to China‟s legal operation in Chinese online news coverage .37 Table 6: The frequency of inter-related words to Vietnam‟s disruptive activities in Chinese online news coverage 38 Table 7: The frequency of inter-related words to China‟s illegal operation and disruptive activities in Vietnamese online news coverage 39 Table 8: The frequency of inter-related words to Vietnam‟s legal operation and defense in Vietnamese online news coverage 40 Table 9: The frequency of inter-related words expressing viewpoints on Vietnam‟s activities in Chinese online news coverage .40 Table 10: The frequency of inter-related words expressing viewpoints on China‟s activities in Vietnamese online news coverage .41 Table 11: The frequency of inter-related words to China‟s peaceful measures and strategies in Chinese online news coverage 42 Table 12: The frequency of inter-related words to Vietnam‟s peaceful measures and strategies in Vietnamese online news coverage 42 Table 13: The frequency of inter-related words to international law and act in Chinese online news coverage 43 Table 14: The frequency of inter-related words to international law and act in Vietnamese online news coverage 44 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION OF AUTHORSHIP i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii ABSTRACT iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS iv LIST OF FIGURES v LIST OF TABLES vi TABLE OF CONTENTS vii PART A: INTRODUCTION 1 Rationale of the research .1 Scope of the research .2 Aim and objectives of the research .2 Significance of the research Research methodology Design of the research PART B: DEVELOPMENT .5 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW 1.1 An overview of CDA .5 1.1.1 The definitions of CDA .5 1.1.2 Principles of CDA .6 1.1.3 CDA‟s approaches .7 1.2 Fairclough‟s three-dimension framework of CDA 1.3 Halliday‟s systemic functional approach and CDA 11 1.4 Transitivity 12 1.5 Overview of related studies 14 vii CHAPTER 2: METHODOLOGY AND ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES .17 2.1 The background to the event .17 2.2 Data collection .17 2.3 Research method 19 2.4 Data analysis procedure .19 CHAPTER 3: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF ONLINE NEWS ABOUT THE EAST SEA DISPUTE .20 3.1 Transitivity analysis .20 3.1.1 Material process 22 3.1.2 Verbal process 25 3.1.3 Relational process 29 3.2 Overwording 33 PART C: CONCLUSION 45 A summary of the findings 45 Limitation and recommendation for further studies 48 REFERENCES 49 APPENDICES I APPENDIX 1: THE 10-QUESTIONS MODEL OF THE DESCRIPTION STAGE (FAIRCLOUGH, 2001:92-93) I APPENDIX 2: CHINESE NEWS REPORTS II APPENDIX 3: VIETNAMESE NEWS REPORTS IX APPENDIX 4: EXTRACTED TRANSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF CHINESE ONLINE NEWS REPORTS XVII APPENDIX 5: EXTRACTED TRANSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF VIETNAMESE ONLINE NEWS REPORTS XXVIII viii C We Sen believe China and Vietnam Car have Pr he S said Pv China and Vietnam A to handle Pm V The increasingly aggressive and dangerous acts of Vietnamese vessels against Chinese oil drilling Id resulted in Pr V A Vietnamese fishing boat A capsized Pm V it A bumped into Pm V the crew aboard the boat G were rescued Pm V (the crew aboard the boat) were Pr V Such recklessness A must stop Pm V (Vietnamese officials) A containing Pm V Vietnamese officials S have made accusations Pv V (irresponsible and wild accusations) In encourage Pm V (irresponsible and wild accusations) In embolden Pm V Vietnamese activists A undertaking Pm The boat accident Id was Pr V the boat A ran into Pm V (the boat) A collided Pm C one of the vessels A protecting Pm V some Vietnamese officials S blamed Pv V (some Vietnamese officials) S accused Pv C The Chinese side displayed Pr C (The Chinese side) S issued Pv C warnings P were ignored V The Vietnamese side A should bear full responsibility Pm V (The Vietnamese side) A should refrain Pm V any further moves A will escalate Pm V (any further moves) A disrupt Pm C The Xisha Islands are Pr C+V C C+V V+C Car Car Car XXV Pmen Pmen C the drilling takes place Pm V The Vietnamese side's obstruction of business activities has Pr C Oil drilling operations G have been conducted Pm C The current operation A has entered Pm C (The current operation) is Pr C The oil rig off Zhongjian Island of the Xisha Islands Id lies Pr C it (The oil rig) Id is Pr C China S urged Pv O countries outside the region A to stay Pm O a US official S proposed Pv C+V claimants A freeze Pm C+V actions A change Pm C Hong Lei S said Pv C China Car has Pr O Fuchs S told Pv O the United States S has called for Pv C+V claimant states A to freeze Pm C+V certain activities on controversial islands and reefs A could change Pm Hong S said Pv certain countries A have seized Pm China S has demanded Pv V+O the countries A withdraw Pm V+O certain countries A have strengthened Pm V+O (certain countries) A increased Pm V+O (certain countries) A to infringe Pm C Hong S said Pv C the Chinese side is Pr C Hong S said Pv C China A protect Pm C (China) is Pr C V+O C A Car Car Car Car XXVI C (China) A resolving Pm V+O countries C (are) involved Pr C (Hong) S quoting Pv O the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea G was signed Pm C Hong S said Pv C+V+O all sides A promised to exercise Pm C+V+O (all sides) A not to take Pm V+O moves A may complicate Pm C+V+O all sides A (promised to) handle Pm C+V+O China and the ASEAN countries A are effectively implementing Pm C+V+O (China and the ASEAN countries) A steadily pushing ahead Pm C the spokesman S said Pv C We Sen hope Pmen O countries outside the region Car maintain O (countries outside the region) Sen distinguish Pmen O (countries outside the region) Sen respect Pmen O (countries outside the region) A to safeguard Pm C he S added Pv XXVII Pr APPENDIX 5: EXTRACTED TRANSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF VIETNAMESE ONLINE NEWS REPORTS Role A A S has positioned violating informed Pm Pm Pv S said Pv V V V C C C C V V China (China) Vietnamese officials Vice Commander and Chief of Staff of the Vietnam Coast Guard Ngo Ngoc Thu Vietnamese agencies Hai Yang Shi You 981 (Hai Yang Shi You 981) the rig The location (of the rig) (The location) China (80 vessels) seven military ships dozens of Chinese plane A flotilla of armed fishing boats and military ships Hai Vietnam‟s law enforcement ships Vietnam‟s law enforcement ships Chinese ships (Chinese ships) (Chinese ships) (Chinese ships) The official Vietnam‟s enforcement forces V Representatives from the Foreign C C V V V C C C C C C C C C C XXVIII Process Process type Participant Sen G A A Id Id A Id G A detected escorted moving was floating was was has deployed including backed are operating Pmen Pm Pm Pm Pr Pr Pm Pr Pm Pm A are prowling Pm S A A A A A A S A said arrived to stop fired rammed damaging injuring stressed had exercised Pv Pm Pm Pm Pm Pm Pm Pv Pm S answered Pv Ministry V C O O C C C C V V V V They the illegal entry of Vietnam‟s waters by China‟s oil rig and vessels as well as their aggressive acts towards Vietnamese ships (the illegal entry of Vietnam‟s waters by China‟s oil rig and vessels as well as their aggressive acts towards Vietnamese ships) It The site of the clash international shipping line These aggressive acts These aggressive acts China‟s wrongful acts (China‟s wrongful acts) the officials they Vietnam Vietnam V Vietnam S V V Vietnam (Vietnam) China‟s recent illegal acts in the East Sea (China‟s recent illegal acts in the East Sea) (China‟s recent illegal acts in the East Sea) massive oil rig China‟s bringing of a massive oil rig (the Chinese ships) the Chinese ships A A violated is running through threaten affect undermine damaging stressed reiterated advocates to solve persevering in discussing adopting to safeguard A have infringed Pm A running counter Pm A damaging Pm escorted is to make used Pm Pr Pr Pm C C C C C C C C C XXIX S affirmed Pv A has violated Pm A running counter Pm A Car Car A A A A S S S A Pm Pr Pr Pm Pm Pm Pm Pv Pv Pv Pm G Car Att A Pv Pm Pm C C C (the Chinese ships) (the Chinese ships) (the Chinese ships) A A A C (a Chinese official) Sen C C C a Chinese official This (China‟s description) China Numerous countries from around the world Numerous countries from around the world S Car Car rammed damaging injuring turning (a deaf ear) described is is Id including Pr S have voiced Pv S describing Pv Car Car A has also become made has caused Pr Pr Pm Car could be Pr A S A tapping commented affecting Pm Pv Pm O O O C+V C+V C (Numerous countries) Pm Pm Pm Pmen Pv Pr Pr C O C The east sea dispute it (The east sea dispute) it (China) Beijing's heavy-handed approach to regional relations and the damage it has caused (China) Holly Morrow (China‟s placement of the oil rig) C China‟s placement of the oil rig P is viewed Pmen C It (China‟s placement of the oil rig) Six-point Principle on the East Sea issue behaviour from Beijing It (behaviour from Beijing) other nations (other nations) China‟s act A challenges Pm G (was) adopted Pm A A A A A Pm Pm Pm Pm Pm C it (China‟s act) A C China A build poses are working to finalise raises is attempting to materialise keep on taking (actions) C C+V+O C C V+O V+O C XXX Pm Pm C China‟s actions Car C The question (about China‟s actions) Ver O C C O C O C This China China‟s acts It our neighbour (China) It such thoughts and actions C+V+O C+V V V V V C C V V V C+V C C C C C C C are needs to be answered is has committed complicate is not has approached can be stated are Pr Pm Pm Pr Pm Pv Pr allow Pm A Id A to be settled has to prove submitted proving occupied Pm Pr Pr Pm Pr Pm Car is Pr A A A Car A A A Car A A G is doing to pursue to settle has grown has done to use to settle to turn agreed to signed taken have (negative effect) hurt is has (never) knelt Pm Pm Pm Pr Pm Pm Pm Pr Pm Pm Pm A A A Car the current mainstream goals A disputes Vietnam (legal and historical grounds) Vietnam historical legal grounds it China‟s declaration of holding sovereignty over the archipelago Vietnam (Vietnam) (Vietnam) the situation China (China) (China) (China) it (China) it The acts G Car C The acts taken by China A C V V (The acts taken by China Vietnam The Vietnamese nation A Car A XXXI Pr Pv Pm Pm Pr Pm V V V V C+O C+O C V C C C C C C C V V C+V C C V V C C C C V C C V V C C Vietnam (Vietnam) (Vietnam) national sovereignty No one (No one) (China) Vietnamese boats China (15 marine surveillance ships and semi-armed fishing vessels) the Chinese ships (the Chinese ships) (the Chinese ships) five maritime surveillance ships (five maritime surveillance ships) the ship's captain, Mr Cao Duy (the ship) confrontation the Chinese ships Chinese ships (Vietnam vessels) the Vietnam Marine Police photographs and video clips Chinese ships (Chinese ships) (Chinese ships) three other Vietnamese China (ships and aircraft) the People's Army newspaper (the People's Army newspaper) Chinese vessels the number of Chinese vessels XXXII A A A Car Id A Sen A A A A A A A A A A Ex A A A A Id A A A G A A S S A Car down take measures to defend to safeguard is has to violate detecting approaching sent Pm Pm Pm Pr Pr Pm Pmen Pm Pm to lay Pm bore down used to attack moved attacked decided to use to counterattack took place withdrew prevented doing published showing attacking damaging injuring were injured has increased to protect quoted saying operating was Pm Pm Pm Pm Pm Pm Pm Px Pm Pm Pm Pm Pr Pm Pm Pm Pm Pm Pm Pv Pv Pm Pr C C V Id A Sen C They (Chinese vessels) many Chinese aircraft The marine police forces two groups of Chinese military aircraft China C+V C+V C C C consisted are operating observed Pr Pm Pmen A flying Pm A has expanded Pm Events leading to the current skirmish Ex began Px Events the oil rig and three oil service ships the oil rig Id A G leading to moved was anchored Pr Pm Pm C it A set Pm C O V C C C V C (China) an international conference Vietnam the Chinese oil rig and ships China's actions China Vietnam China The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group) prohibited held confirmed were operating are is violating demanded withdraw Pm Pm Pv Pm Pr Pm Pv Pm S voiced Pv S requesting Pv V V A G S A Car A S A C CNOOC A to cease Pm C (CNOOC) A withdraw Pm V Pham Binh Minh S spoke Pv V (Pham Binh Minh) S to voice Pv V Vietnam‟s Ministry of Foreign Affairs A met Pm V (Vietnam‟s Affairs) A to hand Pm O The U.S and Japan S O (The U.S and Japan) S Ministry of Foreign XXXIII have (voice) asserting raised Pv Pv C C O O C China's actions a provocation This Many experts China's move Sen A C China Car C C A Ex S said Pv C C C V (China) the Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig a senior official of the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force canvas sheets canvas sheets (Chinese military ships) Nguyen Van Trung are is creating is considered believe exposes continued showing sending is standing Ex Id A S Px Pr Pm Pv C The ships A C V V C C V C C V V (The ships) Vietnamese forces Trung China 119 ships he China two more warships he Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance ships (Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance ships) China many Chinese ships (many Chinese ships) (many Chinese ships) he Chinese ship A A S A Id S A Id S A unveiled covering intimidating said kept on approaching provoking undertaking said maintained including said has deployed including clarified approached V V C C C C V C Car A XXXIV S A A A A S A to demand recall encircled rammed fired said rammed Pr Pm Pmen Pmen Pm Pr Pm Px Pm Pm Pm Pv Pm Pr Pv Pm Pr Pv Pm Pv Pm Pm Pm Pm Pv Pm V it V Trung S C Chinese fishing vessels A V V V V V V V V the Vietnamese fishermen (the Vietnamese fishermen) Trung fishing boat QNg-90205-TS it Vietnamese fishermen their tools The Quang Ngai boat The Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force V Car Car A S G A G G G A was (on duty) Pr said continued surrounding stayed to preserve said was constrained was operating were beaten were destroyed is captured Pv has exercised Pm Pr Pm Pv Pm Pm Pm Pm Pm Pm V they A V V V C V S A S A Id A to create Pm C Trung (they) Vietnam China Vietnam‟s waters (dispatching any other rigs to Vietnam‟s oil and gas Block 143 or any other areas belonging to Vietnam‟s waters) (China) continue providing said to ensure demands not to take back prescribed A dispatch Pm V Le Hai Binh S has said Pv V C C V The spokesman China it Binh China‟s rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 and a large number of escort ships escort ships The rig‟s location S A A S made (statement) moved has placed recalled Pv Pm Pm Pv A have violated Pm Id Id including was Pr Pr C C C C XXXV Pm Pv Pm Pv Pm Pr C C C C C C V V V V C Chinese ships (Chinese ships) (Chinese ships) Vietnamese coast guard and fisheries surveillance vessels The actions by the Chinese side (The actions by the Chinese side) (The actions by the Chinese side) Vietnam (Vietnam) Binh Vietnam Haiyang Shiyou-981 V the area V C C O V V O V V C V V C C C C V V C+V Operations of the rig and escort ships of China (Operations of the rig and escort ships of China) international law the spokesman Vietnam international law Binh (Binh) China The spokesman Vietnam China‟s oil rig Haiyang Shiyou The rig and the fleet of nearly 60 escort ships it (the rig) Chinese ship 11209 Boat DNa 90152 it The incident XXXVI A A A encircled rammed fired Pm Pm Pm A undertaking Pm A A A A A S S A injured caused sank has struggled to safeguard affirmed has affirmed has operated Pm Pm Pm Pm Pm Pv Pv Pm Car belongs to Pr Car are Pr infringing Pm A Id S A Id S S Sen S A A including said wishes to reach including noted demanding respect confirmed defends was moving Pr Pv Pm Pr Pv Pv Pmen Pv Pm Pm A were moving Pm Id A G G A was sank was encircled was attacked occurred Pr Pm Pm Pm Pm Ex is standing Px Id is Pr V O China‟s Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig representatives from the Foreign Ministry All 10 fishermen This G Pm Pr V Vietnamese fishing boats G were rescued is not have been attacked G was disrupted Pm G G G were beaten were taken away being assailed managed to escape (managed to) get said cost was chased (was) rammed suffering from dispatched positioned have rammed (have) fired Pm Pm Pm C V regular V V V boat QNg 90205-TS‟s operation Vietnamese fishermen their properties (the boat) V the boat V V C V V V C C C C (the boat) Quang the attack fishing boat QNg 96416-TS fishing boat QNg 96416-TS fishing boat QNg 96416-TS China China Chinese ships (Chinese ships) Vietnamese coast guard and fisheries surveillance ships (Chinese ships) many Vietnamese ships officers Liem and officials of the southern province of Binh Duong many firms‟ operations Liem He the province and the Ministry of V V C V V V C+O V V V A XXXVII Rec S Car G G Sen A A A A Pm Pm Pm Pv Pr Pm Pm Pmen Pm Pm Pm Pm A are carrying out Pm A G G leaving damaged injured Pm Pm Pm A paid (a visit) Pm G S S A were affected apologized said were deploying Pm Pv Pv Pm V V V V V C+O V V V V C+O V C+O C+O C+O C+O C+O Public Security (the province and the Ministry of Public Security) Binh Duong Binh Duong (Binh Duong) (Binh Duong) them The official the province (the province) (the province) them Mr Bui Manh Lan, 80% of the enterprises on his campus (80% of the enterprises) 35 companies in the park nearly 10 The general director of Bowker Vietnam Ltd O his company O O O (his company) our factory we A representative of Yang Cheng Vietnam the company (the company) 65% of the enterprises Several other enterprises 50 percent of the factories tens of thousands of workers at least 950 people (at least 950 people) O O O C+O C+O C+O C+V+O V V A S A A A A S Sen A A A S G A Car A S A XXXVIII Sen G A S A A A A A Car Tar A to ensure pledges to take to ensure (pledges) to help resume said was assessing to offer to help resume said were unaffected are operating sustained will resume said has been operating trusts was damaged resumed Pm Pv Pm Pm Pm Pm Pv Pmen Pm Pm Pm Pv Pm Pm Pr Pm Pv Pm Pmen Pm Pmen said Pv was repairing to resume have resumed plan to operate have returned are accused vandalizing Pm Pm Pm Pm Pm Pr Pv Pm V V V V V V V (at least 950 people) (at least 950 people) Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang He local authorities (local authorities) those XXXIX A G A S A A A looting had been arrested paid (a working visit) instructed to investigate to prosecute took (the lead) Pm Pm Pm Pv Pm Pm Pm