A Critical Discourse Analysis of Discursive Ideologies in Pakistani and Indian Print Media about the Abolition of Article 370 and 35A in Kashmir

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to identify the hidden stances and discursive ideologies of Pakistani and Indian English newspapers’ editorials on the special status of Kashmir through abolition of Article 370 and 35A. For the current study the Van Dijk Ideological Square Model (2005) as theoretical framework was chosen for positive self-presentation and negative other-presentation for the examining of discourse. The study analyzed linguistics traits in thirty newspapers’ editorials from six newspapers. Three English newspapers were selected from Pakistan and three from Indians. The data analysis revealed that different micro strategies such as hyperbole, authority, lexicalization, illustration, comparison, euphemism, etc. were used in these editorials. Besides these micro strategies, also the macro strategies like negative other-presentation positive self-presentation were also used. The study further revealed that how the polarity and racial agenda were projected by the use of language by two countries in their editorials. The micro strategies in Pakistani editorials were used more than that in the Indian editorials, while the macro strategies used in the Indian editorials were more than in the Pakistani editorials. The positive self-presentation was mostly used in Pakistani editorials whereas India editorial mostly focused on negative other- presentation.