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Realising a discourse of the 'basket case'

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/78038

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Title: Realising a discourse of the 'basket case'
Related: Critical discourse studies, Vol. 5, Issue 2, p.181-199
DOI: 10.1080/17405900801990140
Publisher: Routledge
Date: 2008
FoR/RFCD Code(s): 200400 Linguistics
Author/Creator: Moore, Stephen H
Description: This paper examines the discourse of a leading Western publication (The Economist magazine) in its reporting on a poorly understood country steeped in different cultural values and traditions (Cambodia). Using a critical discourse analysis framework and the theory of systemic functional linguistics, this paper argues that The Economist's reporting effectively reinforces an image of Cambodia as a 'basket case'. This is achieved by setting the country up for failure (by measuring its performance against Western benchmarks) and then vilifying the Cambodian leadership for that failure. A solution is hinted at but with little hope of success. The data analysed consist of 129 articles published in The Economist between late 1991 and mid-2002, with a special focus on a key sub-set of 18 articles. Particular attention is given to the analysis of field settings in The Economist's reporting and its treatment of Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen through the semantic system of voice.
Description: 19 page(s)
Subject Keyword: 200400 Linguistics
Subject Keyword: Cambodia
Subject Keyword: critical discourse analysis
Subject Keyword: ideology
Subject Keyword: reported speech
Subject Keyword: systemic functional linguistics
Subject Keyword: The Economist
Subject Keyword: voice
Resource Type: journal article
Organisation: Macquarie University. Dept. of Linguistics

Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/78038
Identifier: ISSN:1740-5912
Identifier: mq-rm-2007010905
Language: eng
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