LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 15:3 March 2015
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Critical Discourse Analysis of the Protesters’ Language

Gulnaz Begum, M.Phil. Researcher, English Linguistics

Abstract

The current study is conducted for presenting a critical discourse analysis of the mob’s language that assembled to record protest against gas and electricity shortage. They have blocked the main Airport road in the cantonment area near the army house in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. For this study, data was collected by non-participant observation method and field notes were also taken for additional support. However, selective ways of expression such as slogans, banners and placards, conversation among the protesters and their distinctive linguistic choices for the two security forces (military and police) are taken for critical discourse analysis to identify their ideologies. This critical discourse analysis of research data elucidates that protesters exhibited their views by placards slogans, and associated themselves with the political parties and security forces by choosing in-group and out-group linguistic choices.

Key words: CDA, Ideology, Linguistic choices

Introduction

Language is the human ability to acquire and use complex systems of communication. Similarly, they are equipped to use it in a unique style for producing desired effects on the audience. This is the reason that many people, especially those gathered for protest, fully utilize this ability by choosing special linguistic expressions that may express their point of view in a striking manner.

The focus of the current study is the protesters’ language who gathered for recording their protest against gas and electricity outage in the cantonment area. They had banners and placards and raised slogans against government by showing their association with other political parties. Additionally, they showed amicable and friendly gestures with the military police. However their attitude was totally different towards the district police. The aim of this study is the presentation of the critical discourse analysis of the protesters’ language for highlighting its ideological basis governing their minds.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Gulnaz Begum, M.Phil. Researcher
Foundation University Rawalpindi
Pakistan
tiamalik5@gmail.com
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