Written Language Analysis

Paper Summary:

Using Foucault's Theory of Language/Power Relationships, this paper analyzes the way that three different newspapers reported on the March 21, 2005 Red Lake, Minnesota high school shooting incident. The paper analyzes the way that each newspaper described the incident, the similarities and differences between the three descriptions and looks at which relationship(s) of power each of the three articles emphasizes within the language of the article itself.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Methodology
Analysis
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Additionally, as Foucault (1970a; 1970b; 1972; 1980) suggests, discourse (language) is similar to a scientific system, or "discipline" that operates within a given social context or contexts (e.g., a work situation; a classroom; a written historical account; a newspaper article). Human discourses (e.g., spoken or written language) are never free, according to Foucault, of inflected, or implied, meaning(s) within that particular context(s). In other words, as Foucault (and later, Derrida, Fairclough, and others) asserted, discourse in never just written or spoken language that is neutral. Therefore, under Foucault's theory, there can be no such thing as completely neutral newspaper reporting, since language (that is, the written language by which the report is made) will always be inflected with meaning according to hidden (or not so hidden) relationships of language and power."

More papers on Written Language Analysis:

• Essay # 10770 : "Linguistics and Written Composition"
• Research Proposal # 147118 : "Written Error Correction by ESOL Teachers"
• Dissertation or Thesis # 92520 : "English As a Second Language"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: