Is there such a thing as Neutrality in the Media?
Linguistic Analysis of a Guardian Article from The Crime Section
Subject of investigation in this grammar analysis is an article written by Steven Morris and published by the Guardian on March 9, 2016 by the name Polish murder suspect ordered to be freed after UK administrative error, which tells the tale of a polish murderer who has been ordered to be freed from prison after an unfortunate mistake made by the UK administrative office. The grammatical analysis of this text aims to expose some characteristic features of the language used in the article. Investigative topics will be composed of the three grammatical metafunctions of Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) which are the metafunctions of ideation, textuality and interpersonality, i.e. transitivity, theme and modality which, in relation to context, comprise a “network of systems, or interrelated sets of options for making meaning”. (Halliday, 15)
The text shows an average level of complexity and is kept within a reasonable frame of difficulty. This analysis will serve to prove this fact and give some ideas on why the author could have chosen to keep it simple.
The first metafunction to be analyzed is the ideation metafunction, i.e. the transitivity of the text. In her text The linguistics of blame, Kate Clark says that “[t]ransitivity is concerned with language at the level of clauses (212)”. This means, the relation of the subject, object, verb and adjuncts of a clause will be examined. It is supposed to shed some light on the writer’s ideas and experiences. First of all, the clause segments in the text were subject to analysis. The results of which are visible on table 1, page 6, which shows that 60,71% of the clauses are independent clauses, while 39,29% are dependent. Interestingly enough, the writer also chooses to use declarative clauses only, which leads to the hypothesis that he is either inexperienced and not putting much creative effort into writing the article or that he is attempting to stay neutral in his sentence choice. Considering that it is an article which reports on a crime, this would seem appropriate, as to not guide the reader in a certain direction.
Going into further detail, table 2 (6-7) reveals that 49,23% of the text is made of lexemes, meaning the text has a lexical density of 49,23%. This is a rather normal percentage. The sentences are also kept short in regards to segments, amounting to 150 segments within an article of 545 words.
Additionally, table 3 (p.7) shows that 32,67% of the text can be categorized as verbal groups consisting of mostly lexical verbs. The fact that the verbs are not more complex proves the hypothesis that the text is kept simple. Now, one could only assume if this is done purposefully or due to a lack of ability. Considering that the article was published in a popular magazine with a certain credibility status, it can be assumed that the writer is attempting to keep it simple to sound neutral and does not lack talent.
The second metafunction which was investigated was the textuality metafunction. By investigating the theme of the text it becomes obvious what the author of the text considers most important and exposes its cohesion and coherence. The results are visible on Table 4, page 8-9, and show that 57,58% of the text can be categorized as theme while 42,42% can be categorized as either rheme or minor, with mostly rhemes. The simplicity of the text in regards to cohesion and coherence becomes even more obvious when looking at the theme types. 42.42% are topical themes, with most of them being categorized as normal, while 14,14% are textual. There are no interpersonal themes, which makes sense because the text is not of a personal nature but simply summarizing events. It is also apparent, that the author is keeping the sentences short and comprehensible, when taking a look at the use of conjunctions. There are only 14 conjunctions used in the text. The author is mostly utilizing names as themes, often starting the sentence with the subject. While it makes the analysis easy, it is not something you would consider to prove a particular creative ability. But since the article is, most likely, supposed to appear neutral, this seems like a good way to go about creating that effect. Overall, keeping the discourse cohesion simple reinforces coherence and establishes neutrality in a way that would connect well with a topic of this nature, which then appears to exist is a field that is neutral of opinion.
The third metafunction subject to examination is the interpersonal metafunction which deals with the modality or the mood of the text. The terrain of interpersonal connection is being explored, meaning: who is talking to whom and what exactly is their relationship? Table 5 on page 9 shows some information regarding that question: The text is showing hardly any signs of modality which would imply that the relationship between reader and writer is supposed to be kept at a distant level, so that the text would not, in any way, cause the reader to be influenced in his or her opinion. It is simply supposed to be a collection of information. The text shows an occurrence of 4 instances in which modality was used. These instances only take place in reported speech in this particular text. The people talking are the ones who have committed the mistake which led to the man mentioned in the title having to be freed from prison. The statements they make, which are quoted by the author, show a significant amount of worry in that they are deontic, root-type modifications which have an obligatory undertone. Saying that “the discharge must be dealt with” (Morris, 2016) the speaker is expressing worry and a desperate need to correct the wrong which has been done, possibly feeling responsible for the outcome. All in all, the modality of the text or rather the lack thereof is another reason why it is logical to assume that the writer is attempting not to influence the reader by keeping it simple, watching his use of language and refraining from adding manipulative aspects to influence the reader on an emotional level.
As already mentioned, it is highly unlikely that The Guardian would employ unskilled authors with a lack of creativity. This text is not supposed to be filled with metaphors and allusions but simply state information for the reader to absorb. This text is kept simple, short and comprehensible, therefore giving all individual readers the chance to make up their own mind about the described matter. All in all, it is refreshing to be confronted with a text which does not simply instil feelings, guided by plans to influence public opinion but simply states facts.
Appendix
Table 1:
CLAUSE
Feature N Percent
independent 34 60.71%
dependent 22 39.29%
declarative 34 60.71%
interrogative 0 0.00%
imperative 0 0.00%
table 1: clause
Table 2:
TRANSITIVITY
LENGTH:
– Number of segments: 150
– Words in segments: 545
TEXT COMPLEXITY:
– Av. Word Length: 4.64
– Av. Segment Length: 3.47
– Min. Segment Length: 1
– Max. Segment Length: 26
LEXICAL DENSITY:
– Lexemes per segment: 1.71
– Lexemes % of text: 49.23
Subjectivity:
– Subjective Positivity: 0.078
– Subjective Strength: 0.208
REFERENCE DENSITY:
– 1p Reference: 0.192
– 2p Reference: 0.000
– 3p Reference: 4.423
table 2: transitivity 1
Table 3:
TRANSITIVITY
Feature N Mean
TRANSITIVITY-TYPE: N=150
verbal_group: 49 32.67%
participant_role: 98 65.33%
VERBAL_GROUP-TYPE: N=150
lexical_verb: 44 29.33%
primary_auxiliary: 2 1.33%
modal_auxiliary: 3 2.00%
PARTICIPANT_ROLE-TYPE: N=150
first_pr: 39 26.00%
second_pr: 28 18.67%
third_pr: 31 20.67%
table 3: transitivity 2
Table 4:
THEME-RHEME
Feature N Mean
THEME-RHEME-TYPE: N=99
theme: 57 57.58%
other: 42 42.42%
THEME-TYPE: N=99
topical: 42 42.42%
textual: 14 14.14%
interpersonal: 0 0.00%
TOPICAL-TYPE: N=99
normal: 28 28.28%
unusual: 8 8.08%
relative-pronoun: 4 4.04%
TEXTUAL-TYPE: N=99
conjunction: 14 14.14%
conjunctive-adjunct: 0 0.00%
continuative: 0 0.00%
INTERPERSONAL-TYPE: N=99
modal-adjunct: 0 0.00%
vocative: 0 0.00%
OTHER-TYPE: N=99
rheme: 38 38.38%
minor: 4 4.04%
table 4: theme-rheme
Table 5:
MODALITY
Feature N Mean
MODIFICATION-TYPE: N=4
modal: 4 100.00%
MODAL-TYPE: N=4
epistemic: 0 0.00%
deontic: 4 100.00%
ROOT-TYPE: N=4
obligation_and_permission: 4 100.00%
inclination: 0 0.00%
ability: 0 0.00%
REALIZATION-TYPE: N=4
modal-verb: 3 75.00%
modal-adverb: 0 0.00%
table 5: modality
Bibliography
Clark, K.: The Linguistics of Blame: Representation of Women in the Sun’s Reporting of Crimes of Sexual Violence. In: M. Toolan (ed.) Language, Text and Context. London and New York, Routledge: Print. p. 208-26
Halliday, M.A.K. 1994. Introduction to Functional Grammar, 2nd ed. London: Edward Arnold. Print. p. 15
Morris, Steven: Polish murder suspect ordered to be freed after UK administrative error. 9 Mar. 2016. Web. 10. Mar. 2016.
