ENGLISH-10 Critical Discourse Analysis of Linguistic Items Projected in Pakistani Urdu Newspapers regarding America, West and Islam: A Post 9/11 Study

Abstract

This work critically analyzes the linguistic items projected in Pakistani Urdu newspapers regarding America, West and Islam after September 11. Data for this research was collected from the three leading Pakistani Urdu newspapers i.e. Daily Jang, Daily Express and Daily Nawa-i-Waqt. Results are generated while applying CDA model projected by Fairclough (1989, 1995) & Dijk (1985) as models, with respect to vocabulary items and newspapers’ ideologies. It was showcased from the data that Nawa-i-Waqat, fanatically employed linguistic items i.e. selected lexical items and literary figures to influence the opinion of its readers regarding the three-part issues. On the contrary, the Daily Jang and the Daily Express showed discernment regarding America and West in their reporting during the said era. Yet the coverage of these two prominent newspapers alleviated the image of Islam inside and outside the country to their bounds.