Rationale of the research
Media serves as a vital tool for information gathering, influencing how readers perceive global events It is recognized as a powerful platform for creating and disseminating social meanings The perspectives of readers are shaped by the language used in media reporting, where journalists play a key role through their choice of words and grammatical structures This careful construction of language conveys specific meanings, ultimately shaping public understanding and interpretation of news.
Newspapers serve as a vital media tool, providing audiences with information on current events and cultural topics of interest As Kurt Loder states, they deliver content that engages readers by connecting them to significant happenings in the world and relevant cultural issues.
Different news sources often present varying accounts of the same event, raising questions about the objectivity and neutrality of the information journalists provide Fowler (1991) argues that the language used in the press is inherently biased, infused with values and ideologies that can shape public perception and attitudes To grasp the true essence of news reports, including the underlying social dynamics and hidden ideologies, it is essential for readers to adopt a critical mindset.
The disappearance of airplane MH370 captured global attention, drawing followers from around the world unlike any previous aviation incident As the search for the missing aircraft unfolded, readers, commentators, and diverse audiences eagerly awaited updates on the tragedy, highlighting the widespread concern and fascination surrounding the case.
The global involvement of foreign military and search teams in the search for the missing MH370 aircraft has sparked widespread attention and speculation Reactions to the incident have ranged from positive to negative, reflecting diverse opinions on its implications for Malaysia and its significance in world history.
News reporters strategically choose their words to convey information about the disappearance of the MH370 airplane A study was conducted to analyze the lexical features and metaphors used in news reports from both broadsheet and tabloid newspapers This research utilized critical discourse analysis to examine how media institutions shape their representation of reality and ideologies for their readers regarding the MH370 incident.
Scope of the research
This research investigates the contrasting opinions and attitudes of writers in broadsheet and tabloid newspapers when covering the same event, emphasizing their lexical choices By analyzing these differences, the study highlights how language reflects the distinct editorial styles and target audiences of each newspaper type.
This research focuses on three key elements: nouns, verbs, and adjectives It also explores the relationship between metaphorical expressions and their meanings, highlighting their significance in uncovering the writers' attitudes.
This study utilized Van Dijk's semantics theory to analyze data, focusing on lexical styles and the connotations of words that convey positive or negative meanings Additionally, it explored the properties of metaphors to reveal the authors' opinions The research data was sourced from twenty online news articles regarding the missing flight MH370, published by two newspaper agents: The Telegraph, representing broadsheet journalism, and The Mirror, representing tabloid journalism, during the period starting in March.
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 study analyzes the lexical choices of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and metaphorical expressions in articles from broadsheet and tabloid newspapers concerning the disappearance of flight MH370 By examining these linguistic elements, the research reveals how different newspaper formats shape the portrayal of the event, highlighting the contrasting tones and narratives employed The findings underscore the influence of journalistic style on public perception and understanding of significant news events.
- 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) through its 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 from 1995, specifically assessing lexical style and rhetorical figures The lexical style involved analyzing 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
First, this chapter gives an overview of CDA Then Van Dijk‘s Semantic Discourse Analysis, Critical Analysis of News discourse, and Language of
5 broadsheet and tabloid newspapers Finally, the overview of related studies is also presented in the chapter
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 explores the use of metaphors Through this analysis, the relationship between the opinions and attitudes of news reporters and their language usage is uncovered.
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 the power of both written and spoken communication It considers language as a vehicle for ideology, interpreting linguistic activities as integral social practices that influence and reflect societal structures.
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 influential book "Language and Control" by Fowler et al in 1979 However, there was a stagnation in development from 1979 to 1985 The subsequent stage marked a period of self-reflection, characterized by the works of Kress and Fowler published 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
2 ―Linguistic Criticism‖ (1986) and ―Notes on Critical Linguistics‖ (1987) by Roger Fowler
7 words, it is related to the mediation of ideology in language, as well as the structures of power in a society
Fairclough perceives language as a social semiotic shaped by social circumstances, reflecting social structures and practices Conversely, language influences society by shaping, maintaining, or altering social relations Consequently, Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) investigates the relationship between social variables and discourse composition, uncovering hidden ideologies related to power dynamics This interaction between language and society is a reciprocal process, where texts are both "socially generated" and "socially transmitted."
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) investigates the relationship between social practices, events, and texts, highlighting how they are influenced by power dynamics and ideological struggles (Fairclough, 1989) It aims to uncover the opaque connections between discourse and society, which play a crucial role in maintaining power and hegemony (Fairclough, 2001).
Scholars like Van Dijk, Wodak, Meyer, and Coulthard align with Fairclough in viewing language as a medium of power and social influence Wodak and Meyer argue that language legitimizes power relations, and Critical Linguistics aims to uncover the ideologies that are often implicit in explicit statements Van Dijk considers Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) a vital tool for assessing social and political dominance, while Coulthard emphasizes that CDA scholars have a professional responsibility to investigate how power and discrimination are embedded in language Ultimately, CDA is fundamentally political in nature.
Eight practitioners are actively working to transform the world, striving to create an inclusive society free from discrimination based on sex, color, creed, age, or social class.
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) effectively reveals the connections between language and ideology, with recent studies exploring topics such as gender differences, racism, and political power This research employs CDA as its primary theoretical framework to critically analyze news discourse, aiming to understand its societal impact.
Van Dijk‘s socio-cognitive approach to CDA
Van Dijk is a prominent figure in Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), focusing on prejudice and racism in discourse His early research examined how ethnic minorities are referenced in conversations and the impact of these discussions on ideological reproduction He posits that the topics discussed reflect the speakers' thoughts and personal beliefs about ethnic issues Central to his argument is the idea that conversations often involve positive self-representation by one group and negative representation of others, highlighting a tendency for speakers to portray their own group favorably while depicting other groups unfavorably.
Van Dijk's approach to Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is termed socio-cognitive discourse analysis, which explores the interplay between discourse, cognition, and society He defines discourse as a multifaceted communicative event that encompasses a social context, involving participants and their characteristics, 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).
In his recent research, Van Dijk clarifies a common misconception about Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), emphasizing that it is not a specific method for conducting discourse analysis He argues that being critical is an attitude and a mindset, rather than a formal methodology for analyzing text and talk (Van Dijk, 2015) Consequently, CDA is defined as the discourse analysis conducted by critical scholars, positioning it more as a social or political movement aimed at addressing and challenging domination and social inequality, rather than a strict analytical technique.
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is not merely one approach among various research methods in discourse studies; instead, it represents a critical perspective applicable across all areas of discourse research This includes fields such as discourse grammar, conversation analysis, discourse semantics, pragmatics, rhetoric, stylistics, argumentation analysis, and multimodal discourse analysis, as noted by Van Dijk (2015a:466).
A key concept in Van Dijk's critical analysis of discourse is the idea of social power, particularly as it pertains to groups or institutions He characterizes social power as a form of control, emphasizing its significance in shaping discourse and societal dynamics (Van Dijk, 2008).
Power is often defined by the ability to influence the actions and thoughts of individuals within other groups This influence relies on a foundation of privileged access to limited social resources, including force, wealth, status, fame, knowledge, information, and cultural capital The concepts of access and control over discourse play a crucial role in understanding how power operates within society.
10 general, and it is one of the tasks of CDA to spell out these forms of power and especially their abuses – that is, forms of domination
To effectively understand and interpret discourse surrounding specific events, such as stories or news reports, it is essential to grasp how these events, actions, or situations are represented Discourse structures—like 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
Semantics, as described by Van Dijk (1985), is a key component of a broader semiotic theory focused on meaningful symbolic behavior Central to semantic theory is the concept of interpretation, which involves assigning objects of one kind (X) to those of another kind (Y) In this context, expressions—such as words (morphemes) and sentences (syntactic structures)—are the objects that receive interpretations These interpretations typically assign meanings to various semantic objects, with meaning itself being a primary focus Therefore, the interpretation of discourse within a semantic framework involves assigning meanings to the expressions used in that discourse.
Semantic discourse analysis focuses on examining the connections between sequences of sentences and their corresponding underlying propositions, highlighting how the meaning of these sequences is influenced by their relationships.
Semantic discourse analysis encompasses both the meaning of individual sentences and their referential aspects, illustrating how specific sequences of sentences within a discourse can indicate or refer to particular entities or concepts.
Van Dijk's theory analyzes textual meanings at two distinct levels The first level encompasses the meanings of words, phrases, clauses, and sentences, as explored in linguistic, logical, or psycholinguistic frameworks This includes examining conditions for meaningfulness, referential interpretations, and relationships such as synonymy, entailment, implication, and presupposition among sentences In addition to this local-level analysis, the theory emphasizes the global dimension of discourse, focusing on the overall meanings of entire texts or significant text segments, including topics, themes, perspectives, and overarching schematic forms.
Abstract semantic analysis is grounded in cognitive and social factors, as meaning and interpretation are shaped by language users within specific communicative contexts Social knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, ideologies, and personal experiences play a crucial role in how media users perceive and represent news reports These representations influence and are influenced by situation models in memory, ultimately shaping 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 As noted by Van Dijk (1995b:143), certain discourse structures are quite clear Given that ideologies form the foundation of social judgments, propositions influenced by ideology frequently reflect personal opinions.
12 statements, expressions of such opinions and attitudes will often indicate what ideological constraints are involved
The ideological semantics in lexical selection reveal a strategic pattern where ingroups and their allies are described positively, while outgroups and opponents are portrayed negatively This observation aligns with established findings in intergroup theory and social cognition research, indicating that mental representations of these groups are influenced by evaluative concepts that affect language use This bias is evident not only in the adjectives and nouns used to characterize ingroups and outgroups but also in the intricate relationships 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 within various levels of text and conversation He emphasizes that lexical style is influenced by the selection of opinion words, while rhetorical devices like metaphors serve 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 diverse structural options to highlight or downplay information, influencing ideologically driven views on ingroups and outgroups These structures are not only expressive of ideological stances but also play a crucial role in the persuasion and reception aspects of communication Consequently, they shape mental models of events by positioning emphasized information prominently within those models Discourse structures serve a dual purpose: they enact underlying ideologies while simultaneously functioning as persuasive tools.
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, defined by the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (2008) as "new information about something that has happened recently," including reports in newspapers, television, or radio It encompasses information about events that are significant or impactful to a large audience, highlighting that news is not solely about what has occurred, but also about the importance and relevance of those events to people's lives.
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 actual events but rather a product of selective reporting and transformation, which creates a skewed perception of reality for readers Since most events go unreported, the selection process offers a limited view of the world, influenced by various political, economic, and social factors Consequently, news language is not a neutral depiction of reality; it is imbued with values and ideologies that shape public understanding Thus, it is essential to explore how language influences perceptions and how news is crafted through these underlying values.
Different countries utilize various languages in news discourses, reflecting distinct realities of the world While newspapers often claim objectivity and impartiality, Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) has challenged this notion According to Richardson (2007), journalistic discourse possesses unique textual characteristics and specific methods of production and consumption, shaped by its relationships with various forms of symbolic and material power These elements—language, production and consumption methods, and the connections between journalism and social institutions—are interconnected, making them complex to separate.
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 prose, prioritize mass entertainment and focus heavily on gossip, emotion, and scandal, often at the expense of substantial news content In contrast, quality newspapers, or broadsheets, are larger and emphasize comprehensive news coverage, political and economic analysis, and cultural issues Examples of both national quality and popular press illustrate the distinct approaches of these two formats.
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 In this context, broadsheet newspapers exhibit characteristics akin to 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 frequently use everyday language, contrasting with the more formal lexis found in broadsheets This distinction highlights the prestigious nature of broadsheets, which are associated with a more serious tone, while tabloids cater to a more informal and accessible style.
Spoken language typically features simpler syntax compared to the more complex structure of written language This difference significantly impacts the 'lexical density' of each form; spoken language is generally lexically sparse, while written language tends to be lexically dense.
The key distinction between formal and informal language lies in their emotional tone; informal language, often found in tabloids, is characterized by a strong attitudinal and emotional appeal, whereas formal language, typically seen in broadsheets, maintains a 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 on its portrayal A 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, aligned with government interests, presented a favorable depiction of government sources and emphasized positive responses from both Chinese reactions and Malaysian officials during the crisis.
The UK newspaper demonstrated a strong awareness of its connections to the Chinese community by highlighting the experiences of Chinese-Malaysian victims Additionally, its coverage showcased a commitment to independent and thorough reporting, setting it apart from the Malaysian newspaper.
A conversation analysis conducted by Maros and Nasharudin (2016) on 13 press conference videos explored the dynamics of institutional interaction and the power embedded in discourse The study identified five mechanisms regulating turn-taking: pre-allocated turns, turn-allocation techniques, turn-taking cues, overlaps, and interruptions It highlighted that these mechanisms, alongside participant roles and institutional arrangements, were primarily employed to reflect institutional power Ultimately, the analysis concluded that turn-taking played a pivotal role in shaping institutional interactions and power representation during the MH370 press conferences, despite the challenging circumstances faced by all participants.
Yao (2015) conducted a media discourse analysis using Scollon's framework and Halliday's Systemic Functional Grammar on 18 articles from a Chinese and a Malaysian newspaper, focusing on text-level discourse features and underlying ideologies The analysis revealed that the Malaysian newspaper portrayed a positive image of Malaysia's proactive search efforts while criticizing the aggressive behaviors of Chinese relatives In contrast, the Chinese newspaper emphasized China's economic strength and its active involvement in the search operation Overall, the findings suggest that news reports reflect distinct national narratives and ideologies.
18 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 captivated a global audience, drawing attention from diverse followers eager for updates Unlike previous aviation accidents, the mystery of MH370 kept readers, commentators, and various groups on edge as they anxiously awaited news about the missing aircraft.
The global involvement of foreign military and search teams in the search for the missing MH370 aircraft has captured worldwide attention, leading to a mix of positive and negative speculations among observers.
The incident involving the missing airplanes has elicited a wide range of perspectives, from positive and neutral viewpoints to negative opinions regarding its causes and consequences This event has not only impacted Malaysia but has also left a significant mark on global history.
This research explores the lexical choices and metaphors employed by news reporters to convey the details surrounding the disappearance of MH370 By examining these linguistic features, the study aims to reveal how newspapers depict various facets of this significant incident to inform and engage readers worldwide.
Data collection
This thesis analyzes twenty genuine news reports concerning 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 reports dated from March, highlighting the varied journalistic approaches to this significant aviation incident.
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 referred to 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 in the country overall.
The Daily Mirror, a British national daily tabloid newspaper established in 1903, has a rich history and has been a significant publication in the media landscape Articles from the Telegraph Media Group can be accessed on their website, www.telegraph.co.uk, under the title The Telegraph By the mid-20th century, the Daily Mirror had solidified its place as a prominent source of news in the UK.
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 best-selling daily tabloid newspaper in the United Kingdom, largely thanks to its extensive readership among the working class For more information, visit its official website at www.mirror.co.uk.
The Telegraph and The Mirror not only differ in format and style but also in their political orientations, with The Telegraph leaning towards conservatism and The Mirror historically supporting the Labour Party This study posits that these contrasting political stances may lead the two newspapers to report on the incident of the missing Malaysian Airlines flight from distinct perspectives, particularly considering the involvement of multiple countries, including China.
To gather data for the study, the researcher followed a systematic approach Initially, news reports about the event were selected from online news websites, focusing on the period from March 8 to May 8, 2014, which was marked by heightened media attention and a significant number of related articles After eliminating repetitive content from The Mirror, the researcher reviewed the selected articles and identified the top ten most newsworthy pieces from each site.
Research method
To uncover the underlying ideologies of reporters, this study utilized Van Dijk's Semantic Discourse Analysis to analyze news articles Among the nine aspects examined, two key areas were highlighted.
4 Curtis, Bryan (25 October 2006) "Strange days at the Daily Telegraph" Slate
5 "Newspaper support in UK general elections", The Guardian, 4 May 2010
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, and adjectives, as well as the use of metaphors in selected news articles, to uncover the underlying opinions and attitudes present in the text.
Data analysis procedure
In the initial stage of analysis, a text analysis tool called Sporkforge is utilized to calculate the number of words, sentences, and lexical density This tool effectively identifies the most frequently occurring words in the text Based on this list, 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 instances where word choice significantly reflects the writers' attitudes Additionally, the analysis includes the selection and interpretation of metaphors in news articles to explore the underlying attitudes expressed by 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 common terms like flight names and reporting verbs that add minimal semantic value The researcher categorizes the most frequent words into Nouns, Verbs, and Adjectives, emphasizing the significance of word choice in reflecting the authors' attitudes.
Nouns are crucial in news articles as they effectively convey the content and represent the main topics Their prevalence in newspaper headlines highlights their importance in topic representation By repeating specific nouns, writers indicate their focus and illustrate how they portray these topics in their writing.
Figure 1: Most frequent Nouns in
Figure 2: Most frequent Nouns in The
The analysis of frequently used nouns in articles from both newspapers reveals key topics of interest: the description of events, highlighted by the terms "search" (60 mentions) and "disappearance" (25 mentions); the exploration of undiscovered reasons, indicated by "mystery" (12 mentions), "theories" (14 mentions), and "question" (11 mentions); the emotional responses of victims' families, reflected in the words "grief" (4 mentions), "loss" (5 mentions), and "disaster" (6 mentions); and concerns surrounding 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
25 responsibility of governments (authorities – 9 times, government – 12 times, action – 5 times)
Verbs play a crucial role in textual analysis, offering valuable insights into the type and content of news articles This study posits that the collection of verbs within a document serves as a conceptual map for the events and actions described, similar to how nouns represent entities The following charts illustrate the most frequently occurring verbs extracted from the source data.
Figure 3: Most frequent Verbs in
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, including the description of events such as "crash" and "vanish," each appearing 23 times, and "happen," which was noted 15 times Additionally, the searching operation is represented by the verb "trace," mentioned 4 times.
0 5 10 15 reveal ensure stabilize infer recover take advantage of turn out appear fail determine examine confirm trace vanish crash stolen seem
0 10 20 30 come up with hunt for emerge raise seem determine distress confirm involve attack fail release happen crash stolen vanish believe
In examining the plausible theories and explanations surrounding the incidents, it appears that the possibility of terrorism cannot be overlooked Many believe that the attacks may involve stolen resources, raising questions about the motivations behind these actions The frequency of these terms highlights the urgent need to hunt for answers and understand the implications of such events.
Adjectives are essential tools for evaluation, significantly influencing how readers and listeners perceive the speaker's or writer's attitudes and emotions Their use provides clear insights into the subjectivity of the communicator, often more effectively than modal verbs and adverbs (Wiebe et al., 2001).
Figure 5: Most frequent Adjectives in
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
0 5 10 15 consistent difficult violent commercial diverted huge extraordinary growing powerful remote sudden far lost old new
27 sophisticated – 2 times, deliberate – 5 times, antagonized – 2 times) and the reactions (lost - 8 times, confusing – 3 times, violent – 2 times)
The way a story is presented, despite having the same plot, varies based on the storyteller's skill and underlying ideologies This research focuses on a detailed analysis of five key topics to illustrate how reporters utilize specific lexical choices to express their perspectives to readers.
Both news agencies focused on the disappearance of the flight, but their approaches differed significantly T writers infused their narratives with subjective language, using adverbs like "mysteriously," adjectives such as "bizarre," and phrases like "with barely a trace" to convey their opinions In contrast, M writers reported the incident in a straightforward manner, devoid of any emotional undertones or personal commentary.
[T1] ―… Malaysia Airlines mysteriously vanished from the skies…‖
[T2] ―Nothing quite makes sense about the disappearance of Malaysia
[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, while the Mirror provided less clarity on the methods employed The use of positive descriptors like "big," "international," and "sophisticated" suggests that with advanced technology and significant effort, there remains a hopeful possibility 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 content richness and piques reader curiosity, encouraging them to delve deeper into the story's mysteries In contrast, merely recounting the event can result in a lackluster article that fails to engage readers effectively.
3.1.2 Choice of negative words a Reasons for missing
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of MH370 continues to captivate public interest, leading to numerous theories and conspiracies Both The Telegraph and The Mirror highlighted the notion of "deliberate action," suggesting involvement from individuals or organizations However, while The Telegraph adhered to widely accepted theories, The Mirror leaned towards exploring various social media-driven conspiracies.
[T3] ―… as the ―deliberate‖ actions involved in disabling the plane‘s communications, and then diverting it onto a new course, clearly required
29 detailed knowledge of the Boeing 777 and no little skill, interest has inevitably focused on 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 This has led commentators, with varying levels of expertise, to propose theories that range from an accident to potential suicidal tendencies on the flight deck, along with complex conspiracies that seem more fitting for a disaster film.
The analysis of the two examples suggests that T writers harbor suspicions regarding the missing airplane's pilot and co-pilot, potentially implicating them in the incident Meanwhile, The Mirror presents a variety of unconventional theories that captivate readers, including notions of "alien abduction," "life insurance scams," "military interventions or secret weapons," and even the idea of a "Bermuda Triangle" phenomenon occurring in Asia.
[M3] ―From alien abduction and a hidden weapon at work, to a military take out and pilot suicide, the theories keep flowing over the internet.‖ b Reactions of related people
The incident has left the victims' families grappling with an unbearable tragedy, and their reactions are completely understandable The Telegraph effectively captures their emotions through a variety of expressions, as illustrated in the examples below.
[T5] ―In the meantime, for the grieving relatives, there is little comfort to be taken from the fact that such mysteries should soon be a thing of the past.‖
[T6] ―Distraught families of the missing—the majority of whom were
Chinese—could not understand the certainty of the analysis when no physical trace of the plane has been found.‖
[T8] ―One of the gravest flaws has been a deep reluctance to release information, however innocuous This antagonised the victims‘ families.‖
However, besides described the tragic loss of those families, T writers also portray Chinese government‘s irrational actions in provoking Chinese people to blame it all on Malaysian government
[T6] ―China‘s government, unusually, even allowed them to protest angrily outside the Malaysian embassy in Beijing.‖
[T8] ―But rather than support the Malaysian government in the first month or so, China seemed to incite the distraught families into ever fiercer, often histrionic, criticism of Malaysian officialdom ‖
[T8] ―With power so finely balanced in the region, China will strive to make the visit go smoothly, including keeping angry families at a face-saving distance.‖
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 play a crucial role in enhancing readers' comprehension of language and discourse organization Their persuasive power significantly influences the structure of thoughts and language, ultimately shaping the news narrative This analysis explores the impact of metaphorical language on reader perception and understanding.
[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 quite ambiguous, often referring to the animating force behind the body and the essence of consciousness, while in other contexts, it signifies a person's spiritual aspect In this article, the phrase "239 souls" is employed to convey the vital life force of the victims, highlighting the writer's profound sorrow and emotional connection to their loss.
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 power 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 strives to eliminate risks and uncertainties associated with flying by implementing advanced technology and rigorous procedures, often in response to past disasters.
The phrase "in the wake of the incident" is a common expression that originates from sailing, where a ship leaves a disturbance in the water as it moves This metaphor highlights the consequences of an action, much like the aftermath of a disaster For instance, the tragic case of Malaysia Airlines serves as a crucial reminder for countries to enhance their security measures, as their lapses allowed individuals with stolen passports to board To mitigate potential terrorism threats, it is imperative for nations to fortify their security systems comprehensively.
Speculations surrounding the reasons for the aircraft's systems being disabled include potential terrorism, pilot suicide, and an onboard electrical fire necessitating the shutdown of non-essential electronics However, these remain mere conjectures, as the true cause is still unknown It is important for pilots to have the ability to disable onboard equipment, particularly due to the risk of fires.
―threat of fires‖ – Actually this phrase was quite vague in meaning It could be used to refer to either the electrical fires or the threat of bomb By using
38 this metaphors, the writers intended to imply the hints of terrorism in their writing
[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, highlighting the severe and unacceptable nature of their actions This sentiment underscores the emotional turmoil and distress experienced by the Chinese people in response to their treatment.
The writer employs metaphor to highlight the contrasting reactions of Malaysian and Chinese people, depicting Malaysians as resigned to their fate, while portraying Chinese individuals as perpetually angry and impolite, often unable to control their behavior.
[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 the families of victims received crucial information from the Malaysian government, prompting them to confront and accept the realities of their loved ones' fates.
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
To uncover the ideologies of reporters, Van Dijk's Semantic Discourse Analysis was utilized to examine twenty news articles from The Telegraph and The Mirror This analysis focused on Van Dijk's discourse structures, assessing lexical style and rhetorical figures The lexical style involved analyzing the selection of positive and negative opinion words, while rhetorical figures highlighted the positive and negative attributes within the articles.
In the light of critical discourse analysis, the research has yielded some findings
Broadsheet newspapers typically feature articles with a higher density of content words per clause compared to tabloid newspapers This suggests that broadsheet writers often 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 often enhanced their narratives with positive adverbs and adjectives, providing a more nuanced perspective on the incident In contrast, tabloid writers focused on straightforward reporting, lacking any emotional undertones This varied use of language not only enriched the content of the news reports but also played a crucial role in engaging readers.
To engage readers and spark their curiosity about the event, it's essential to go beyond mere reporting By incorporating intriguing details and inviting questions, the article can create a sense of mystery that encourages exploration of related content This approach not only captivates the audience but also enhances the overall reading experience, preventing the article from becoming dull and unmemorable.
Both newspapers expressed skepticism about the reasons behind the mysterious disappearances, suggesting the involvement of individuals or organizations The broadsheet newspaper primarily adhered to widely accepted theories, while the tabloid newspaper leaned towards exploring conspiracies circulating on social media.
A notable finding regarding the reactions of those involved is the Chinese government's strategy, which appeared to incite public blame towards the Malaysian government, leading to a significant public relations scandal This tactic seemed aimed at diverting global attention away from potential terrorism linked to China Interestingly, only broadsheet newspapers reported on this issue, reflecting their nuanced language, while tabloid publications largely overlooked the topic.
Broadsheet newspapers frequently used the term "Iranians" when discussing two cases involving lost passports linked to Iranian individuals, suggesting a subtle implication that people from Iran may be associated with terrorism In contrast, tabloid newspapers chose not to mention the suspects' nationality, focusing instead on the incidents themselves.
Broadsheet newspapers in Malaysia generally express disagreement with the government's actions, focusing on political issues, while tabloid writers provide only brief mentions of criticisms against the government, often steering clear of political discussions.
Different newspapers employed metaphors uniquely to convey their messages Broadsheet newspapers used metaphors to express deep sorrow for the victims, illustrate the ambiguous situation in the absence of concrete evidence, address the concept of terrorism, and caution other nations to heed the lessons from the Malaysia Airlines incident In contrast, tabloid newspapers utilized metaphorical expressions to highlight the exceptional quality of the missing aircraft, suggest that such a powerful plane could not vanish unnoticed, depict the tragic impact on the victims' families, indicate the influence of religion on Malaysian society, showcase the intense reactions from the Chinese community, and portray the painful acceptance faced by the families of the victims.
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, with only twenty news reports analyzed, the findings cannot be generalized to represent 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
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
Air travel is remarkably safe, with individuals being approximately 180 times more likely to die in a car accident than in an airplane crash, as reported by America's National Safety Council This high level of safety is attributed to the airline industry's relentless efforts to minimize 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 Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8th raises critical questions about airline safety In an era dominated by big data, where our smartphones monitor our whereabouts and intelligence agencies track our daily habits, it is astonishing that a large aircraft carrying 239 passengers could vanish without a trace.
Though its whereabouts and the reason it altered its flight path so far remain
III unknown , the incident reveals numerous security lapses that are relatively easy to fix—and must be, to maintain public confidence in air travel
The disappearance of MH370 highlighted the need for continuous tracking of commercial airliners, as many assumed planes were in constant communication with ground stations for safety and navigation While this is true over land, it is not the case over vast oceans, where aircraft only send occasional data bursts to satellites, primarily engine status updates The aviation industry is working on upgrading to a GPS-based radar system for continuous tracking, but this implementation has faced delays and should be prioritized immediately.
About 40 minutes after takeoff, MH370 mysteriously "went dark" when two critical communications systems were deactivated: the secondary radar, which identifies the aircraft, and ACARS, used for sending status updates Speculations regarding the reasons for this shutdown include 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 risks In such instances, the aircraft must automatically send an alert indicating that the system has been shut off, allowing authorities to track the aircraft using conventional radar, which shows it as a blip without identifying information Implementing these two reforms would have ensured that air traffic control was immediately notified of any issues when the transponder was disabled during the MH370 incident, enabling them to monitor the aircraft's location continuously.
Two passengers on board MH370 were traveling with stolen passports registered with Interpol, highlighting a significant oversight in airport security Contrary to common belief, not all passports are screened before flights, raising serious concerns about aviation safety This situation underscores the need for improved security measures to prevent such lapses in the future.