Presentation of Racial Discrimination: A Transitivity Analysis of Meghan Markle’s Interview at The Oprah Winfrey Show

Abstract

The transitivity analysis of Meghan Markle’s interview at “The Oprah Winfrey Show” has been carried out to see how the experience of racial discrimination has been presented in language. It is descriptive-qualitative research where Hallidayan Transitivity Model, from SFG, has been employed to explore the meanings construed in utterances. SFG looks at the functions of language and transitivity deals with experiences narrated and conveyed through language. The analysis of the data reveals that the utterances construe an experience of racism as Meghan had a Black American identity. Her unborn child was mocked for his/her complexion, and was denied security, title, and an equal status in the Royal family. She also experienced bullying at the international level through international media and had to leave the UK. The most dominant processes found through the analysis are mental and verbal processes. The mental processes show that she understood, perceived, and therefore got affected by racism. The verbal clauses show that she was bullied, verbally, and questioned by the family. While the material and behavioural processes show her effective response towards racism and discrimination based on that racism, while the relational clauses identify it. The language is highly objective since circumstances are used thereby bringing validity and detail to her experiences.