Covert societal practices in linguistic choices of Pakistani editorials: Fairclough’s CDA model approach

Abstract

Purpose: Core concept of CDA revolves around the interdependency of description of language, interpretation of language and prevailing discursive practices in society. This study examines the role a language plays in formulating ideological subjective position of male and female in any contemporary society.

Methodology: The study applied Fairclough’s CDA model on the Pakistani editorials of two English newspapers in order to qualitatively analyze the linguistic choices and its placement in the text by focusing on other modalities of language such as adverbs, adjectives, metaphors and action verbs for unraveling the patriarchal practices of the society in which women are at the stake of more disadvantages than the men in COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Findings: Editorials showed remarkable use of differences in linguistic choices for depiction of powerful and powerless group. Findings showed the existence of hegemony in society where men dominates women by violating their basic rights. Abusive nature of men during the pandemic situation has transformed women's tendency to attend their work through online sources into a tiresome experience.  Linguistic choice and syntactic structure have brought forth the discourse type, situational context and societal practices at the surface level which in turns connect back to the role of society and culture in shaping the perception of editors in writing a piece of editorials.

Unique Contribution to Practice and Policy: Two newspapers have adopted different stances in depicting a same issue which also reveals the hidden ideology of the press media in which they use implicit or explicit tone in delivering their ideas. This research can help in exploring new dimensions of Pakistani editorials’ language where different tone of language represent unique subject position of female and male in pandemic situation.