A Critical Analysis of the Agent Invisibility in Sino-U.S. News Discourses

Abstract

This critical analysis of discourse based on a corpus carefully studies language forms and discourse uses of hidden doers in news reports about a diplomatic event between China and the US. This study focuses on two main grammar structures: passive voice and using nouns to express actions. It analyzes how news discourses purposely hide or play down people who should take responsibility in describing diplomatic events. The research uses a self-made similar parallel corpus, which includes 18 typical news reports from China Daily and 18 from The New York Times respectively. Real research results show that structures that remove doers are widely used in news texts from both news agencies. However, The New York Times uses these language ways to hide doers much more frequently. This study not only proves the practical uses and analysis value of corpus linguistics methods in finding hidden rules of discourse in news language. It also shows the importance of checking small grammar choices when we learn how international news media build stories about sensitive diplomatic arguments and international conflicts. So it provides a view from language to help people understand media prejudice and hidden ideas in international news reporting.