The Representation of Tun Mahathir Pre and Post General Election 14: A Critical Discourse Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/lspi.v12.26000Keywords:
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), Power, Identity, RepresentationAbstract
This study employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine the representation of Tun Dr Mahathir in the context of the 14th General Election in Malaysia. CDA views language as a social practice (Mullet, 2018), shaping and shaped by power dynamics within society. The research focuses on the lexical choices and discourse structures in Utusan Malaysia’s coverage of Tun Dr Mahathir, both prior to and following his electoral victory. By applying Van Leeuwen’s framework (2008) for analyzing the representation of social actors (Fairclough & Wodak, 1997). This paper investigates how linguistic and social resources construct identities and social relations. Specifically, it investigates the nomination, identification, and functionalization of Tun Dr Mahathir, revealing the ideological implications of discourse in the portrayal of his prime ministerial role. The analysis spans a critical period, before the election (6 until 8 May 2018) and after the election (16 until 18 May 2018), highlighting shifts in discourse that may reflect changing power relations and institutional control of linguistic resources.
References
BBC News. (2018). Malaysia election: Opposition scores historic victory. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44036178.
Butler, R. N. (1969). Ageism: Another form of bigotry. The Gerontologist, 9(4), 243–246.
Chen, K.-W., Lewis, N. P., & Altourah, A. F. (2023). Ageism, a remarkable election, and the journalism objectivity norm. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1177/10776990231196086.
Chouliaraki, L., & Fairclough, N. (1999). Discourse in late modernity: Rethinking critical discourse analysis. Edinburgh University Press.
Davari, S., & Moini, M. R. (2016). The representation of social actors in Top Notch textbook series: A critical discourse analysis perspective. International Journal of Foreign Language Teaching and Research, 4(13), 69–82.
Dowling, S. (2011). Constructing identity: Identity construction (Master’s thesis). Georgia State University. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1089&context=art_design_theses
Fairclough, N., & Wodak, R. (1997). Critical discourse analysis. In T. A. van Dijk (Ed.), Discourse as social interaction (Vol. 2, pp. 258–284). Sage.
Fairclough, N. (2014). Critical discourse analysis: The critical study of language. Routledge.
Evans, M. (2013). The author and the princess – An example of critical discourse analysis. Language in Conflict. Retrieved from http://www.languageinconflict.org/component/content/article/90-frontpage/145-the-author-and-the-princess-an-example-of-critical-discourse-analysis.html.
James, T., & Lahti, T. (2001). Ideology and discourse: The theory and practice of critical discourse analysis. Cambridge University Press.
Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (2008). Metaphors we live by. University of Chicago Press.
Levy, B. R., & Banaji, M. R. (2002). Implicit ageism. In T. D. Nelson (Ed.), Ageism: Stereotyping and prejudice against older persons (pp. 49–75). MIT Press.
Mannheim, I., Wouters, E. J. M., Köttl, H., van Boekel, L. C., Brankaert, R., & van Zaalen, Y. (2023). Ageism in the discourse and practice of designing digital technology for older persons: A scoping review. The Gerontologist, 63(7), 1188–1200. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnac144.
Ong, H. T. (2005). A doctor’s duty is to heal the unhealthy: The story of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 34, 45C–51C.
Post, J. (2009). Functionalization and the role of social actors. Journal of Discourse Studies, 5(2), 122–135.
Rodzi, N. H. (2017). Mahathir named chairman, Anwar named de facto leader of Pakatan Harapan. The Straits Times. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/mahathir-named-chairman-anwar-named-de-facto-leader-of-pakatan-rakyat.
Saidin, M. I. S., & Azrun, N. (2024). Digital media and religious sentiments in Malaysia: Critical discourse analysis of Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party and Democratic Action Party cyberspace campaigns in the 15th general election. Religions, 15(8), Article 920. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080920.
Selvaraj, S., & Sandaran, S. C. (2024). Discourses of aging in a Malaysian online newspaper: Shaping of the perceptions of society. Research on Ageing and Social Policy, 12(2), 105–126. https://doi.org/10.17583/rasp.14369.
Sigelman, L., & Sigelman, C. K. (1982). Sexism, racism, and ageism in voting behavior: An
experimental analysis. Social Psychology Quarterly, 263-269.
Taylor, C., & Marchi, A. (2018). Corpus approaches to discourse: A critical review. Routledge
Utusan Malaysia. (n.d.). Malaysian newspaper history. Retrieved from http://www.utusanmalaysia.net/history-behind-the-utusan-malaysia.html.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological functions. Harvard University Press.
Van Leeuwen, T. (2008). Discourse and practice: New tools for critical discourse analysis. Oxford University Press.
Weiss, M. L. (2012). Politics in cyberspace: New media in Malaysia. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
Wilkinson, J., & Ferraro, K. (2002). Thirty years of ageism research. In T. D. Nelson (Ed.), Ageism: Stereotyping and prejudice against older persons (pp. 13–30). MIT Press.
Wodak, R. (2001). What CDA is about: A summary of its history, important concepts, and its developments. In R. Wodak & M. Meyer (Eds.), Methods of critical discourse analysis (pp. 1–13). Sage.
