Discourse Approach Research Articles

Investigating the Disclosure of Corporate Social Responsibility in International Hotel Chains

This paper examines how international hotels communicate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on their websites. In particular, this study employs a corpus-based discourse approach to investigate the content and language included in the CSR reports of two international hotel chains, Marriott and Hilton. The aim is to understand the type of information reported as well as the discursive strategies employed to promote CSR performance with regards to economic, social, and environmental issues. The findings reveal several common themes in Marriott and Hilton’s CSR reports, highlighting their commitment to sustainability, ethical behavior, and community involvement. The importance of diversity and inclusion, organizational supervision, and responsibility is emphasized in the reports. Both hotel chains prioritize supporting local communities and upholding social responsibility through charitable efforts and leadership development programs. Environmental sustainability is a key focus, with efforts to adopt sustainable practices in an attempt to achieve long-term environmental goals. Further research will include a wider range of international hotel chains and incorporate social media analysis to provide a more comprehensive understanding of CSR practices in the hospitality and tourism industry.

SUBDIALECTAL DISCOURSE AND PECULIARITIES OF ITS MENTAL CONTINUUM IN THE LENS OF THE MODERN LINGUISTIC PARADIGM

The article is devoted to the study of specific features of subdialectal discourse and its mental continuum, viewed through the prism of modern linguistic theories. The purpose of the research is to study and describe the functioning and structure features, as well as the specifics of the linguarium of subdialectal discourse. The object of the study is the subdialectal discourse, which covers speech practices recorded in the village of Pishchanyi Brid, Novoukrainskyi district, Kirovohrad region. The subject of the study is the mental continuum of the subdialect speakers, which includes knowledge, perceptions and assessments related to various aspects of their lives. The source of the study was the speech recordings of the native speakers, i.e. the textual corpus of the subdialect. The methods used in the study were modelling, hypothetical method, deductive and inductive methods, descriptive method, observation method, taxonomic method, and continuous sampling method. The peculiarity of the study of subdialectal speech in discourse studies lies in the analysis of the composition of usages, the specifics of the composition of the linguarium and its influence on the structure of discourse, expression of thoughts, interaction of speakers and the formation of the ethnographic identity of peasants who speak the subdialect. The discourse approach allows us to better understand the speech process in a specific socio-cultural and geographical setting, as well as the interaction of speakers within the dialect environment. It involves analysing the discourse of the language group in question, identifying specific lexical, grammatical and phonetic features that are characteristic of certain socio-cultural groups. The metalinguistic interpretation of discourse types in the linguistic paradigm presents dialectal discourse as a reflection of real language use, a set of idiolects and an indicator of changes in the language. The household, ceremonial, religious and existential knowledge contained in the dialect discourse is critical to the well-being and cultural integrity of rural communities. In particular, household knowledge encompasses practical skills in housekeeping, agriculture and crafts. Ceremonial and religious knowledge includes traditions, rituals and beliefs that support the spiritual life and cultural identity of the community, and existential knowledge is related to the understanding of life, death and moral values, helping community members navigate difficult life situations. Prospects for the study include a meta-analysis of dialectal discourse, which can be expressed in different ways in individual subdialects, the development of new methods for studying dialectal language in the digital environment, and the integration of interdisciplinary approaches for a deeper understanding of speech practices and cultural characteristics of speakers.

Political Discourse in Arabic Media: A Critical Discourse Analysis

The present investigation is an endeavor to examine discourse from the CDA perspective. The following inquiries are the focus of the investigation: The extent to which the language employed in Trump's speech influenced individuals. Is the discourse beneficial or detrimental to the Egyptian populace? Additionally, which discursive strategies are implemented during their discourse? The study posits that speakers employ a variety of strategies, argumentation, and historical contexts to communicate their ideologies to their audience in order to secure their support. This will address the aforementioned inquiries. Additionally, it is postulated that the manner in which English and Arabic speakers employ these resources differs. The data selected has been analyzed using Wodak's (1999) historical discourse approach (DHA). Consequently, the data for this study is derived from the speech of "the former president of the United States of America", Donald Trump, on October 23, 2020, regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The historic approach's components, such as the topos, the context, the historical framework, and the strategies, will be the primary focus. These components are employed to analyze each discourse. The research investigates how politicians wield social power and engage in through their speeches. The analysis highlights that many of the techniques employed are related to meaning and argumentation. Critical discourse analysis is a type of discourse analysis that is dedicated to the exploration of the discursive manifestations of ideology and authority. The study aims to investigate the manner in which politicians and exercise social authority in their addresses. The research indicates that the majority of the methodologies employed in critical discourse analysis are pertinent to political speeches. This research employs the lens of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to dissect the language, rhetoric, and underlying ideologies within media coverage.

Depoliticized and decontextualized equality promotion in the gender equality planning of Finnish comprehensive schools

ABSTRACT This study critically examines gender equality planning (GEP), which has been obligatory in all Finnish comprehensive schools since 2015. GEP has been welcomed as a promising method of systemizing perspectives on gender in Finnish basic education. A regionally representative, discretional sample of gender equality plans (N = 140) was analysed using a critical discourse approach to examine how these plans discursively bent, stretched, fixed or shrank the meaning of gender equality along with the consequences of these approaches for equality promotion. The analysis shows that the GE plans constantly bent and stretched equality to separate it from gender and fixed it to free-floating gender equality measures, which left gendered power relations undisturbed. Consequently, equality promotion was represented as depoliticized. However, through the shrinking, the contextual construction of gendered power relations was recognized, and GEP exhibited the potential to politicize gender equality. In this paper, we argue that GEP has potential in gender equality promotion if the planning processes recognize contextual construction of gendered power relations and if equality promotion is not reduced to technical measures. Otherwise, the tool might actually impede equality rather than promoting it.

Politik Representasi Identitas Perempuan dalam Media: Wacana Kritis Pemberitaan KDRT di suara.com

Domestic violence (DV) is a complex problem with significant implications for the lives of women and children. Women's identities are often portrayed negatively and stereotypically as housewives, caregivers, weak, helpless, and submissive. Men's views tend to see women as sexual objects, sex symbols, objects that reinforce patriarchal patterns, and vulnerable to harassment and violence. This study aims to uncover the politics of women's representation in reporting domestic violence on suara.com. The politics of representation in this context refers to the way the media presents and constructs narratives about violence against women. The focus of this study is to understand how the media depicts cases of domestic violence, especially in the context of women's representation. The research method used is qualitative research with Sara Mills' critical discourse approach. Data were obtained through reading, understanding, recording, and identification using this approach. The results of the analysis show that the media still often depict women in a stereotypical framework that shows them as weak, causing problems, and emotional, for the benefit of the media company itself.

Feminisit Discourse in Albanian Political Communication

Objectives: According to Foucault, "... dealing with the discourse on human sexuality cannot be done without understanding the power-knowledge-pleasure relationship. The longevity of power is proportional to its ability to hide the mechanisms it uses". The facts show that, in these three decades of upheavals and political changes, even political communication in Albania has known great changes, certainly with ups and downs, different tones and colors. Feminist discourse has tried to show that every woman, who is part of politics, can get out of those "frames" that have placed and labeled her and show herself in one way or another to prove that her own room for which Virginia Ulf spoke in 1928. Methods: The discourse texts in this paper are analyzed using various concepts of contemporary criticism of (Critical) Discourse Analysis. which is a type of literary research that studies how abuse of social power, dominance and inequality are developed, reproduced and resisted within the text in the social and political context. Results: This paper, aims to examine and highlight the way in which this type of discourse, i.e. the feminist discourse, tries to establish balance in a rather difficult terrain, harsh and wild as is the political terrain related to other aspects such as power, rhetoric, dominance, etc. Conclusions: The discourse approach of women in Albanian politics has a marked orientation in highlighting their values in decision-making and making rational politics. Women in Albanian political communication are still labeled simply as beautiful images, prejudging and leaving aside their professional aspect.

‘Let’s play together for entrepreneurship!’ Engaging actors in academic capitalism within the policy discourse on entrepreneurship

Since the early 2000s, the promotion of entrepreneurship in higher education (HE) has become a central aim of educational policy in Europe. We apply a critical discourse approach to examine entrepreneurship HE policy discourse in the framework of academic capitalism. Using Finland as a case example, we investigate how academic capitalism materializes in and through the entrepreneurship discourse in a Nordic HE system and how social actors in higher education institutions (HEIs) are persuaded and engaged in entrepreneurship discourse, and within it, in academic capitalism. We analyze recent guidelines for HEIs produced by the Federation of Finnish Enterprises and university stakeholders. We show how the entrepreneurship policy discourse in HE intertwines with academic capitalism in multiple ways. The whole HEI community across disciplines is harnessed for the creation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem to enhance the innovation, creation, and renewal of businesses in order to create economic value for HEIs and businesses to secure national competitiveness. As business actors participate in generating the policy discourse, they also powerfully contribute to redefining the purpose of HE according to business logics and values. This will strengthen the marketization of a Nordic system that has so far followed social equality as its core principle.

Exploring Interpersonal Meanings of Report Cards and WISC-V Scores: A Case Study of a Gifted Child

Using a discourse approach, this study examines interpersonal meanings and judgmental resources constructed in academic assessment reports and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Fifth Version (WISC-V) results. This research opens fresh avenues for analyzing the linguistic and cognitive elements of a gifted child’s early performance. The target child is a gifted student with a Fluid Reasoning score of 132 (98th percentile). In-depth English text analysis was performed on his eight academic report cards from the playgroup, prenursery, kindergarten, first two years of primary school, and one WISC-V test. The appraisal system serves as the study’s theoretical foundation, providing an interpersonal analysis of how behavior is evaluated and judged in the areas of capacity, normality, tenacity, veracity, and propriety. The findings indicate that when teachers’ observations and the WISC-V are integrated, a gifted student’s cognitive abilities and academic performance strengths and weaknesses can be revealed comprehensively. The alignment of teacher evaluations in the areas of languages, mathematics and science, as well as work habits and social attitudes and WISC-V test results, is also examined. This study contributes to the understanding of the behavioural patterns of gifted student and the implications for their education development.

What’s (in) a CBO? Analyzing community representation in the Kenyan aid chain

Abstract Within the field of development research and practice, there is a growing realization that interventions aimed at supporting emancipation struggles in the Global South should prioritize local actors and agendas. Consequently, community-based organizations (CBOs) are increasingly considered vehicles of change. The label ‘community-based’ has become central to the work of non-governmental organizations and donors seeking to connect with ‘grassroots’ populations and is frequently used by groups engaged in self-representation on different levels. In this article, we seek to study various forms of CBOs involved in the aid chain in their own right, rather than as mere recipients of aid. Drawing on comparative empirical case studies involving a queer male sex worker-led organization in Nairobi and a group of CBOs in rural Kenya, we illustrate how, despite uniform approaches in development discourse, these organizations take on completely different forms, functions and practices, which influences their relationships with development actors. We seek to problematize over-simplified depictions of CBOs by showing that these in reality comprise a wide range of groups, from local ad hoc initiatives, to highly professionalized actors operating on the (trans)national level. We therefore argue that CBOs should be understood as comprising a continuum in forms, functions and practices, which influences their power positions within transnational aid chains. We recommend that development actors explore the organizational structures of the local groups they work with, including questions of voice and representation, and take into account individual CBOs’ desired roles within the aid chain.

Examining talk moves of science teacher’s through communicative approach

ABSTRACT Background Teachers are expected to take actions that support students’ ideas and create a network of ideas between different ideas when classroom discourse is based on an interactive dialogic communicative approach. Despite this emphasis, it is unknown how well existing discourse approaches and moves used in science education research correspond with the discourse cultures that teachers currently engage in. Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify the teacher’s talk moves during the whole class discussion, how the teacher decides the moves, and the communicative approach used in tandem with the talk moves. Sample A fifth-grade science teacher working in a primary school in Turkey and her students were the participants of the study. Design and methods A case study was used to understand how the teacher’s talk moves laid the groundwork for the communicative approach, how she transitioned from one approach to another, and the reasons for this transition. Results The dialogue begins with the teacher’s move of laying the foundation. The teacher allows students to express their ideas on this basis and synthesizes the different ideas of the students. It can be inferred that the teacher considers the limitations of the Science program when determining the content to be taught and therefore adopts an authoritative approach. Although an environment in which students can express their ideas freely was established in an effort to create a pool of ideas, student interaction was observed at a minimum. The only exception to this observed pattern is when students initiate the discussion of the ideas. This move showed that a student-initiated dialogue was ‘drifted’ towards predetermined content by the teacher’s move. Conclusion In-service training ensures that teachers are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to create dialogic learning environments that will support students in expressing their ideas, interacting with each other, and learning together.

Atrocity in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale: A Critical Discourse Approach

This paper examines the discursive tactics employed in The Handmaid's Tale to (re)produce social reality. Using critical discourse analysis, the study reveals the ideological polarization between a favorable self-presentation and a negative portrayal of the other. Through the analysis of excerpts and the application of Van Dijk's framework, the pervasive use of discursive techniques is uncovered, emphasizing the ideological division between a positive self-portrayal and a negative depiction of the other. Pronouns and adjectives play a crucial role in conveying optimistic self-representations and pessimistic other representations, highlighting the characters' struggle against the inherent sexism and patriarchy within legal systems. The findings demonstrate the significance of polarization, lexicalization, positive and negative representation tactics, and the proximity of contrasting stages, illustrating the tension between the individual and society. Considering these results, the paper recommends fostering awareness and critical analysis of discursive tactics, promoting diverse narratives to cultivate empathy and understanding, encouraging dialogue and critical engagement, and actively addressing and challenging gender inequality. These recommendations aim to deepen our understanding of how discursive tactics shape social reality and promote a more equitable and inclusive society. By recognizing and interrogating these discursive strategies, individuals can navigate and challenge the manipulation of language and narrative. The study's insights contribute to a broader understanding of the underlying gender inequality and societal tensions portrayed in The Handmaid's Tale, shedding light on the power dynamics and systemic oppression present in society.

Countering Journalist Curse in A Bourdieusian Perspective: Metajournalistic Discourse on Doxing in Remotivi Indonesia

This research explores the phenomenon of doxing as a digital form of attack against journalists, reflecting a shift from physical threats to digital harassment facilitated by the accessibility of digital media. Utilizing a metajournalistic discourse approach, this study examines how Indonesian journalists perceive and respond to the pressures of doxing within the framework of their professional practices and identities. By analyzing metajournalistic discourse documents from the Remotivi website, this research positions journalists as both victims and defenders within their field, facing pressures from both the political and economic spheres. Pierre Bourdieu’s theoretical constructs of the journalistic field, capital, and habitus are employed to interpret the responses of journalists to these digital threats. The findings indicate that doxing represents a significant external influence, perpetuating a high degree of heteronomy within the journalistic field. However, there also exists a discursive resistance among journalists, characterized by efforts to define and uphold a journalistic identity aligned with autonomy and ethical norms. This study highlights the need for greater cybersecurity awareness and protections for journalists, emphasizing the importance of maintaining journalistic integrity in the face of evolving digital threats.

Examining the role of community champions to promote vaccine uptake in under-served communities in the United Kingdom: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how ethnic minority groups are disproportionally affected by health crises and the potential for community engagement to provide equitable public health information and services. Policymakers, practitioners, and academics have presented community engagement as a way to improve the access and uptake of health services, including vaccination, but the role of community members for health promotion is rarely questioned. We examine ‘community vaccine champions’, who have been acting as advocates, promoting engagement among ethnic minority groups for COVID-19 vaccination in different communities across the United Kingdom. Our research explores how champions working with minoritised groups have experienced and confronted the challenges brought on by the pandemic. Participants were invited to participate in this study as they worked with or for the Black or South Asian community (i.e., community leader, faith leader, or a public or allied health professional) and were working or had worked to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake. From April 2021 until May 2022, we conducted 12 semi-structured interviews lasting 45–60 min via video call. The interviews were inductively coded and analysed following a discourse approach to health communication, where a focus is made to draw out underlying messages and talking points.Our findings highlight the range of different types of champions, who have a variety of roles within their respective community groups. Champions proved adaptive in taking on new positions to promote vaccination, with limited training and preparation, and found that being ‘grassroots’ actors positioned them well to both address local needs and to help build trust between authorities and their communities. A major issue that champions found was the use of ethnic minority classifications and how to address misinformation. Classifications were seen as a problem in how relevant data was collected, as well as in assigning blame to certain groups. Champions also stressed the influence of media and social media misinformation on vaccine decision-making. Still, our informants cautioned taking action based on simplistic assumptions about how misinformation negatively affects vaccine uptake. We conclude by setting out the need for ongoing community support for health issues and the challenges of community engagement for vaccine promotion in a pandemic setting.

The influence of politics on the governance of an entrepreneurial ecosystem in a developing country: a generative institutional discourse approach

ABSTRACT Entrepreneurship is often about the individual drive for innovation and the exploitation of opportunities; however, in an increasingly connected world, entrepreneurial ecosystems have gained considerable research interest. In many developed countries, entrepreneurial ecosystems emerge from organic collaborations between businesses and investors, with little political involvement. However, in a post-communist country like Kazakhstan, different stakeholders have diverse expectations, leading to tensions among them. In this study, we took a qualitative approach and drew from discursive institutionalism theory in entrepreneurship research in order to understand the influence of politics on the governance of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Our findings reveal tensions between collective aspirations and individual goals, generating multiple institutional logics. The generative institutional discourse that is brought about by politics, their influence on governance, and facilitating factors is a mechanism that helps to turn such tensions into policies and collective action. To gain a better understanding of the influence of politics on the governance of entrepreneurial ecosystems, we propose a generative institutional discourse model.

Scrutiny of a "Pathway to English Phase E” Textbook in Transitivity System

The research was focused on one of analysis systems in a systemic functional linguistics study, especially analysis of transitivity ecncountered and pinpointed by the writers in the “Pathway to English” textbook. The research objective was to discover the types of transitivity processes identified in the “Pathway to English” textbook . This study was a qualitative research with descriptive data in a discourse approach. The data were a respective genre found in chapter one until three. The research findings showed that not all types of transitivity were prevalent. It was found that the highest usage of the transitivity process was material process, which was shown more active, and the lowest one was meteorological because there are no clauses explaining what the weather is. The character in a text should be a subject and an object, so the researcher can determine whether the character is subject or object in the clause.

Understanding the Dynamics of Life Satisfaction in the Swedish Welfare State: A Multifaceted Analysis Integrating Quantitative, Qualitative, and Discourse Approaches

This interdisciplinary study investigates life satisfaction in the context of the Swedish welfare state, employing a mixed-methods approach to offer a comprehensive understanding. Quantitative analyses, utilizing World Values Survey data, reveal significant associations between work importance, household financial situation, and life satisfaction. However, the explanatory power of the models remains modest at 15.3%. The study emphasizes the need for a holistic approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of work and financial well-being with other determinants of life satisfaction. Qualitative insights, derived from interviews and focus groups, explore individual experiences, uncovering nuanced perspectives on well-being. Participants highlight the importance of resources, welfare benefits, work, and personal freedom, aligning with the capability approach. The conceptualization of well-being incorporates Chambers' notion of capabilities, Sen's emphasis on freedom, and Nussbaum's consideration of how individuals’ function. Discourse analysis enriches the study by examining language as a constitutive force, shaping perceptions, and influencing actions. A focus group discussion and blog analysis reveal diverse views on life satisfaction, emphasizing the significance of freedom and choice. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of life satisfaction, calling for future research that integrates quantitative, qualitative, and discourse analysis approaches. The study underscores the complexity of life satisfaction and its multifaceted determinants, urging policymakers and practitioners to adopt comprehensive strategies in promoting well-being in welfare states like Sweden.

Legitimizing the interventions recommended in “European Research Area Policy Agenda 2022–2024”

Abstract The EU Directorate General for Research and Innovation’s “European Research Area Policy Agenda: Overview of Actions for the Period 2022–2024” outlines twenty actions to boost research excellence, investment and reform, coordination and support, or green and digital transformation of the academia, in an attempt to create a truly common “European knowledge market.” Filled with strategic planning jargon, the policy specifies the recommended interventions for years to come and with billions of Euros of funding to follow. Using a qualitative critical discourse approach, this study explores policy-making from a linguistic perspective to capture the characteristics of current EU R&I discourse. Language choices have a constitutive role in policy papers due to the discursive capacity for legitimization and subsequent persuasion. The analysis focuses on the persuasive presuppositions induced by certain lexico-grammatical choices, including evaluative and rhetorical devices, and shows how the ERA policy fosters acceptance of a European vision of R&I values.

Enacting Journalistic Authority: The Communicative Challenges and Competences of Live Two-Way Correspondents in Swedish Public Service Broadcasting

ABSTRACT Whenever a major event flares up in the world, we are bound to be met by correspondents reporting live on the news. The correspondents are typically promoted as authoritative voices. Their live talk is delivered in “the live two-way,” a broadcast interaction between the presenter and the correspondent on location. Focusing on live reporting during the Ukraine–Russia war (2022–), this study analyses the communicative work that goes on in the live two-way, and how correspondents handle the tasks related to the enactments of epistemic authority. A conceptual framework is applied defining the communicative and epistemic dimension of the live two-way. This study applies a discourse approach and focuses on experienced correspondents in Swedish public service. Data consists of 30 live two-ways and interviews with 5 of the journalists about planning and execution of the live reporting. Results show how practices and roles separated in other genres of news are integrated in the complex work of the correspondent who is expected to fluently report from location, convey a sense of being there, present facts, and analyse and explain. This study indicates different styles of reporting when correspondents alternate between a careful and confident stance as they balance their commitments to truth.

Quranic discourse Approach in light of textual linguistics

يحاول هذا البحث أن يقدم رؤية متواضعة لكيفية اغتنام بعض المفاهيم التي تقدمها لسانيات النص بوصفها نشاطاً تأويلياً وتحليلياً وتوظيفها في مقاربة النص القرآني لكنها مقاربة غير منبتة الصلة عما قدمته المجالات المعرفية التراثية المختصة بالكشف عن آليات فهم هذا النص المقدس، وتأتي في مقدمتها مباحث علوم القرآن.
 وإلى جانب ذلك؛ كان هناك هدف آخر – مهم - حاول البحث تحقيقه، وهو الكشف عن بعض الإشكاليات التي كانت هاجساً لدى بعض الباحثين، أدى إلى التشكيك في وحدة النص القرآني تارة، وإلى التشكيك في جدوى الآليات التأويلية التي اجترحها المفسرون والمعنيون بالنص القرآني تارة أخرى.

Graduation Resources in News Discourse: Calls for the British Museum to Return Chinese Cultural Artefacts

Using a discourse approach, this study examines online news and opinion pieces about calls for the British Museum to return Chinese artefacts. We examine the interpersonal meanings conveyed by the linguistic choices made in these texts. This study uses the appraisal system in the systemic functional linguistic (SFL) framework to examine how news discourse addresses the issue and constructs interpersonal meanings. Graduation resources, as a subcategory of appraisal system, can underpin the degree of meanings and perspectives, allowing writers to adjust the gradability of attitudinal meanings conveyed to readers. This research first examines how the writer’s voice is embedded in graduation resources, and later, how these graduation resources are used in online news articles calling for the return of the artefacts. This study also examines how online newspapers covered a short film by vloggers called “Escape from the British Museum”, which sparked massive social media reactions, offering new perspectives on how social media and traditional news organisations interact to construct meanings through language. The results show that quantification and fulfilment (completion) resources are the two most common subcategories of graduation resources. The findings shed light on the language strategies used in news and social media discourse, as well as the interpersonal meanings behind such requests for cultural heritage repatriation.