A Critical Discourse Analysis Of News Reports On Coronavirus From China Daily And The New York Times

Based on the news reports on Coronavirus of 2020 from China Daily and The New York Times,and assisted by Fairclough’s three-dimensional analytical tool and Halliday’s systemic functional linguistics,this thesis does a critical discourse analysis on news discourse,discussing the linguistic features of news discourse of China and America.The research purpose is to discuss the interrelation of language,power and ideology and to analyze the linguistic features of news discourse.Depend on qualitative method mainly,this thesis picks up 20 pieces of news reports on Coronavirus from China Daily and The New York Times respectively,and proceeds the paper from three steps: text analysis,which studies their linguistic features from lexical choice,modality and transitivity system;discourse practice,which discusses the intertextuality from modes of discourse representation and news sources;social practice,it analyzes the reasons from situational context,institutional context,and societal context,uncovering the power relation and ideology inclination hidden in news discourse.According to research findings,the following conclusions could be drawn: first,no matter in text level such as lexical choice,modality or transitivity or discourse practice level like modes of discourse representation and news source,there are subtle differences in news reports of China Daily and The New York Times.Second,after comparison,it finds that the major differences are derived from the situational context,institutional context and societal context.In order to maximize their interest,American government do propaganda and politicalize the novel Coronavirus;while Chinese government are more inclined to accommodation,who conform to principle of a community with shared future and seek for corporation and mutual benefits.Third,inevitably,under the influence of political party,opinions in news discourse are endowed with ideology inclination and subjectivity.Theoretically,this thesis verifies the validity of critical discourse analysis as a research method and the practicability and feasibility of Fairclough’s three-dimensional analytical tool and Halliday’s systemic functional grammar;practically,this thesis wakens readers’ attention over the power relation and ideology hidden in news discourse,and it helps them get true and objective news information with critical consciousness.