Teza Diskurs Makrostruktura

7/24/2019 Teza Diskurs Makrostruktura

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Masaryk UniversityFaculty of Arts

Department of Englishand American Studies

English Language and Literature

Alena ipoov

HEADLIES AD SU!HEADLIES" #ESE$

M%DALI#& AD 'E(IS#E'!ased on Discourse Analysis of the !ritish #a)loid

The Sun

Masters Diploma Thesis

Supervisor: doc. hDr. Ludmila !r"anov# $Sc.

*+,,


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I declare that I have worked on this thesis independently,using only the primary and secondary sources listed in the bibliography.

..Authors signature


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Ac%no&ledgement:' &ould li%e to than% doc. hDr. Ludmila !r"anov# $Sc. (or her great encouragement# &ords o(

advice# inspiring ideas and pleasant cooperation.


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#A!LE %F -%#E#S

A%#A#I% ................................................................................................................................ /

(L%SSA'& %F #E'MS ...............................................................................................................0

LIS# %F #A!LES .......................................................................................................................... 1

I#'%DU-#I% .........................................................................................................................,+

-HA2#E' , LA(UA(E %F E3S2A2E'S .........................................................................,*-HA2#E' * -%'2US -HA'A-#E'IS#I- ............................................................................,0

).* The Length o( the Articles ..................................................................................................... )+

).) The Length o( ,eadlines and Su"headlines ...........................................................................))

-HA2#E' 4 #HE '%LE %F HEADLIES ...............................................................................*/

-.* The ole o( Su"headlines ......................................................................................................)/

-HA2#E' 5 ('AMMA#I-AL S#'U-#U'E %F HEADLIES AD SU!HEADLIES ..4+

0.* $lause Structure o( ,eadlines and Su"headlines ...................................................................-+

0.*.* T1pes o( Speech Acts in ,eadlines and Su"headlines ....................................................-*

0.) 2er"al and 2er"less $lassi(ication .........................................................................................-)

0.).* 2er"less $lauses ............................................................................................................. --

0.).) 2er"al $lauses: Distri"ution o( Tenses in ,eadlines and Su"headlines .................... ......-0

-HA2#E' / M%DALI#& I HEADLIES AD SU!HEADLIES .....................................5+

3.* Assertion and Assumption in ,eadlines and Su"headlines ....................................................04

-HA2#E' 0 'E(IS#E' ............................................................................................................./6

5.* Language o( ,eadlines and Su"headlines: Speci(ic 6ords ....................................................37

5.) Loaded Language in ,eadlines and Su"headlines .................................................................5+

5.- 8aming Strateg1 in ,eadlines and Su"headline ....................................................................5+

5.0 Slang in ,eadlines and Su"headlines ....................................................................................5)

5.3 A""reviations in ,eadlines and Su"headlines .......................................................................5-

5.5 9igures in ,eadlines and Su"headlines ..................................................................................50

-%-LUSI%S.............................................................................................................................07

!I!LI%('A2H& ..........................................................................................................................7+

'ESUM8 ........................................................................................................................................70

SUMMA'& ....................................................................................................................................76

Appendi9" #HE S%U'-E MA#E'IAL ......................................................................................6+

0


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A%#A#I%

The ne&s echange has "een as old as human%ind. eople &ould# at (irst# s&ap

ne&s "1 mouth# and later# &hen the1 &ere literate# in &ritten (orm. 6ith the arrival o(

the printing press ne&s distri"ution "ecame easier. Since then other methods o( ne&s

transporting have developed. ;ne o( these methods is the 'nternet. 't has "ecome

a signi(icant# (ast and easil1 accessi"le source o( in(ormation (or man1 people searching (or

ans&ers to their


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(L%SSA'& %F #E'MS

>'n alpha"etical order# "ased on m1 or other authors? de(initions@

Assertion

ournalese

< language t1pical o( ne&spapers>Summers *443: /57@

Historic present

Cdescri"es the past as i( it is happening no&: it conve1s something o(

the dramatic immediac1 o( an e1eB&itness account >uir% et al. *473: *7*@

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Imperative clauses

< =are characteriFed "1 the lac% o( a su"Gect# use o( the "ase (orm o( the ver"# and

the a"sence o( modals as &ell as tense and aspect mar%ers >=i"er et al. *444: )*4@

Inverted commas ?@uotations

< are t1pes o( modalit1 mar%ers used to suggest iron1 or &ords that are not normall1

used in a given &a1 >see uir% et al. *473: *5-3@

Loaded ;ords

< C&ords that carr1 particularl1 strong connotations# that is# carr1 anemotional loading "e1ond their literal meaning >eah *447: *7@

ominaliBation


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religious# (ormal English >$r1stal )++7: 0+4@

Stance adver)ials

< are the t1pes o( modalit1 mar%ers# "1 &hich the author epresses hisHher

attitude to&ards a statement >see =i"er et al. *444: /50@

Slang

is an in(ormal language used "1 a particular group o( people instead o( more

general and recogniFed terms

Statement

B is a declarative sentence as opposed to the


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LIS# %F #A!LES"

Ta"le * Topics in headlines SET I

Ta"le ) Topic in headlines SET II

Ta"le - Page distribution SET I

Ta"le 0 Page distribution SET II

Ta"le 3Headlines vs. subheadlines

Ta"le 5 lauses structure in headlines

Ta"le / lauses structure in subheadlines

Ta"le 7 Speech act types in headlines

Ta"le 4!istribution o" tenses SET I

Ta"le *+ !istribution o" tenses SET II

Ta"le ** Type o" modality in headlines SET I

Ta"le *) Type o" modality in headlines SET II

Ta"le *-!istribution o" assertion and assumption in headlines and subheadlines SET I

Ta"le *0!istribution o" assertion and assumption in headlines and subheadlines SET II

Ta"le *3 #ords typical o" newspapers

Ta"le *5$oaded words in headlines

Ta"le */ %aming strategy in headlines

Ta"le *7 Slang words in headlines

Ta"le *4 &bbreviations in headlines

Ta"le )+ E'pression o" numbers in words and "igures in headlines and subheadlines

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I#'%DU-#I%

,eadlines "elong to the linguistic area that arouses interest not onl1 in scholars "ut

also common people since their (unction is to attract. Their (unction in ne&spapers is

there(ore ver1 important. ,o&ever# not so much attention# i( an1 at all# has "een paid to

the stud1 o( su"headlines. 9or this reason# ' have chosen these t&o linguistic devices (or m1

discourse anal1sis. The source# ' have chosen to anal1Fe# is the popular =ritish ta"loid

The Sun# &hich# unli%e an1 other serious "roadsheet ne&spapers# deals &ith light topics

o( ever1da1 li(e and there(ore arouses interest o( man1 common people. There(ore

the language o( this t1pe o( ne&spaper &ill di((er (rom the one used in serious press.

9or m1 discourse anal1sis# ' have created t&o sets o( headlines &ith su"headlines.

The search occurred in t&o di((erent periods# i.e. during ;cto"er )+*+ and (rom Ianuar1

)+** to 9e"ruar1 )+**. Each set consists o( (i(teen headlines &ith su"headlines. 'n m1

thesis ' &ould li%e to stud1 them into more detail# i.e. &hat (unction the1 per(orm# &hat istheir relationship# ho& the1 a((ect the impartialit1 o( ne&s. ' &ill also (ocus on their

grammatical structure and the linguistic devices such as modalit1 and register.

M1 thesis consists o( a theoretical and practical part# ho&ever# these t&o parts are

not separated "ut closel1 interconnected. ' have divided the thesis into si chapters.

The (irst chapter introduces the topic o( the language o( ne&spapers and the language

devices that suggest the presence o( spo%en language in ne&spapers.

The second chapter introduces the histor1 o( the =ritish ta"loid that ' &ill anal1Fe in

m1 thesis# i.e. The Sun. 'n this chapter the time span and the method o( collecting

the re


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introduced and the length o( the articles# headlines and su"headlines is discussed.

The third chapter deals &ith the role o( headlines and su"headlines in ne&spapers.

't also de(ines the relationship "et&een these t&o elements.

$hapter (our anal1Fes headlines and su"headlines in terms o( their grammatical

structure. 9irst o( all it de(ines their clause structure and the speech t1pes used. 9urthermore

it anal1Fes ver"alit1 and nonver"alit1 o( the clauses. Similarl1# ver"al phrases are (urther

anal1Fed in terms o( the tenses used.

'n chapter (ive ' &ill (ocus on important language device# i.e. modalit1 in headlines

and su"headlines. ' &ill identi(1 the concrete t1pes o( modalit1 in individual headlines and

su"headlines. ' &ill (urther concentrate on the assumption and assertion# i.e. ho& are

headlines and su"headlines presented in ne&s.

9inall1# the last chapter deals &ith register# i.e. ho& the language is used in

ne&spapers.

All the language devices discussed in m1 thesis in(luence the impartialit1 o(

ne&spapers in some &a1. Language is a great tool that can manipulate the tet so in

the (ollo&ing chapters these devices &ill "e anal1Fed in headlines and su"headlines in

the ta"loid ne&spaper The Sun.

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-HA2#E' , LA(UA(E %F E3S2A2E'S

8e&s is a representation o( the &orld in language >9o&ler *444: 0@. Another source#

LD$E# de(ines ne&s as =reports o( recent events in the ne&spapers or on the radio or

television >Summers *443: 43-@# ho&ever# eah >*444: 0@ narro&s do&n the de(inition to

Cin(ormation a"out recent events that are o( interest to a su((icientl1 large group# or that

ma1 a((ect the lives o( a su((icientl1 large group# i.e.# not ever1thing that happens at

the moment around us Summers *443: /[email protected] is no clear de(inition and the la"el is o(ten used peGorativel1.

As $r1stal >*454: */-@ claims# Cthere is not one# "ut a num"er o( JGournaleseJ that can "e

(ound "et&een the pages o( the dail1 and &ee%l1 pressK and &hile the1 do have a certain

amount in common# their overall st1les are ver1 di((erentC. There(ore the t1pe o( language

and linguistic devices that &ill "e used (or a particular ne&spaper depends on the audience

the ne&spapers are addressed to. 9or this reason# the language o( ta"loids &ill "e

considera"l1 di((erent (rom the one used in "roadsheet ne&spapers.

According to 9o&ler >*444:3/@# ne&spapers adopt conversational st1le in order to

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create Can illusion o( in(ormalit1# (amiliarit1# (riendliness# "ecause Cconversation implies

coBoperation# agreement# s1mmetr1 o( po&er and %no&ledge "et&een participants.

,e lists and de(ines language devices that suggest the presence o( spo%en language in

ne&spapers >9o&ler *444: 5)B5-@:

typography and orthography

2arious t1pographic devices are used to ma%e the print loo% more attractive and less

dull.

honemes are simpli(ied or misspelled# to indicate contrastive stress italics or

underling is used.

register

Leis or voca"ular1 used in tet is in(ormal and (ormal &ords are avoided >slang# e.g.

pics# cele"@.

To create in(ormalit1# people are re(erred to "1 their (irst names or nic%names

>,arr1# 6ills# =lair@.

synta9 and morphology

TechniM# MiliJs

9illies@.

dei9is

The devices such as indicators o( person# indicators o( time# indicators o( place are

used to lin% tets &ith people# time and places o( communication.

modality

*-


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The use o( modal epressions in tets presents su"Gectivit1.

speech acts

Speech act represents an act o( uttering &ords rather than Gust using them# i.e. spea%ergives commands# instructions# re


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As a last thing to stud1 ' &ill (ocus on the register o( headlines and su"headlines#

"ecause this area also# to a large etent# a((ects the o"Gectivit1 o( ne&spapers. 't contains

man1 language devices that can "e used to slant the tet in a particular direction

and to manipulate the reader. ' &ill tr1 to identi(1 individual linguistic devices that are used

in headlines and su"headlines in m1 corpus.

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-HA2#E' * -%'2US -HA'A-#E'IS#I-

'n m1 thesis ' am going to deal &ith the =ritish popular ne&spaper The Sun. 't is

availa"le in "oth printed and online (orm. ;n the grounds o( easier accessi"ilit1 ' have

chosen the online (orm o( the media that is availa"le (or (ree on the internet. The material

(or m1 thesis consists o( t&o sets o( headlines and su"headlines in articles &hich &ere

collected during t&o periods# in ;cto"er )+*+ and (rom Ianuar1 )+** to 9e"ruar1 )+**.

'n this chapter ' &ould li%e to (ocus on the development o( the media and the process

o( collecting the material (or m1 discourse anal1sis.

*3thSeptem"er *450 is the date &hen The Sunappeared (or the (irst time. Launched

as a "roadsheet ne&spaper# Sun &as supposed to replace the declining !aily Herald. 'n

*454# "eing "ought "1 upert Murdoch# the ne&spapers &as conse(or concrete (igures see nrs.co.u%@.

Since The Sun is engaged onl1 &ith sensational and scandalous topics# its themes are

limited and tend to repeat.

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The time span during &hich ' collected the material lasted one month in ;cto"er

)+*+ and another month (rom Ianuar1 )+** to 9e"ruar1 )+**.

During the period o( collecting the material (or m1 discourse anal1sis# ' gathered

thirt1 di((erent articles. The list o( them is divided into t&o sets# &ith each set consisting

o( (i(teen articles. The ta"le "elo& groups them according to their content into three

categories. The research occurred on random da1s# &ith no pre(erence o( the topic

o( studied materials# ho&ever# the initial intention &as to collect an1 article &ith no speci(ic

topic# "ut since each set contains onl1 (i(teen articles# in order to create (e&er groups &ith

more representatives ' decided to (orm three groups &ith (ive representatives in each group.

There(ore# in the end ' had to search (or articles (rom a particular (ield to (inaliFe

the groups. 6hile searching (or the material# ho&ever# ' noticed that articles dealing &ith

politics prevailed. M1 (irst categor1 o( headlines in Set ' is there(ore named Politic,and

is divided into t&o su"categories# depending on &hether it discusses domestic or (oreign

politics. Set ' contains (our articles dealing &ith domestic politics &hich includes topics

(rom the area dealing &ith political parties or (inances. 9oreign politics concentrates

on topics discussing &ar in A(ghanistan or terrorism. As (ar as the categor1 o( crimes

is concerned# it ranges (rom "lac%mailing# through seual o((enses to murder.

The last categor1 to "e mentioned deals &ith !isasters, i.e. content that is a"out

tragic events that happened in the &orld involving either individual persons or larger

groups o( people.

Set '' contains similar groups as the (irst set# ecept (or one group# !isasters# &hich

is replaced "1 theHealth are. The (irst categor1 o(Politics# contains t&o articles dealing

&ith domestic politics and three &ith (oreign politics. Another categor1 is the rimes#

&hich similarl1 as the Set ' deals &ith various t1pes o( criminal issues. The third categor1

o( Health are includes articles commenting on issues concerning health and diseases.

Although# some articles ma1 appear to overlap in terms o( their topics "eing discussed#

*/


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' grouped them according to the one that seems to prevail and is the most important

in terms o( discourse anal1sis.

Since the politics "elongs to the most (re


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The ta"les "elo& groups the headlines according to the individual topics discussed

in the articles.

#a)le , Topics in headlines SET I

#opic Headline num)er Cuantity

oliticsDomestic ,-# ,3# ,5# ,4 0

9oreign ,*+ *

$rimes ,0# ,*)# ,*-# ,*0# ,*3 3

Disasters ,*# ,)# ,/# ,7# ,** 3

Total Total *3

#a)le * Topic in headlines SET II

#opic Headline num)er Cuantity

olitics Domestic ,*7# ,)0 )

9oreign ,)-# ,)3# ,)/ -

$rimes ,*5# ,*/# ,*4# ,)+# ,)4 3

,ealth care ,)*# ,))# ,)5# ,)7# ,-+ 3

Total Total *3

As (ar as the headlines alone are concerned# some o( them presented in the highlights

di((er (rom those placed in the actual article. There is a signi(icant di((erence "et&een

the sets. Set ' di((ers onl1 in three headlines# ho&ever# headlines in the second set di((er in

eight cases. ,eadlines (rom the highlights are more accurate and there(ore longer than those

accompan1ing the actual articles. The1 usuall1 contain the &hole name o( the person

involved in the article or age to ma%e the headline more in(ormative. 'n m1 discourse

anal1sis ' &ill not# ho&ever# ta%e the headlines (rom the highlights into consideration.

Another important point to mention is the (act that the content o( some articles is su"Gect to

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change as the original content cannot "e traced. There(ore it might have "een updated (rom

the time o( collecting it (or m1 discourse anal1sis. The last remar% is a"out the headline

,*7 &hich contains a mista%e# or" instead o( o"". There(ore all the ta"les# &here this

headline occurs# are presented as the1 originall1 occurred in the online article# i.e. &ith

the mista%e.

*., #he Length of the Articles

'n this su"chapter ' &ill (ocus on the length o( the individual articles. ' &ould li%e to

eamine &h1 the articles di((er in their siFe and ho& and compare the t&o sets.

#a)le 4 Page distribution SET I

um)er ofpages

Amountof articles

#opic Articles

) 5

Disasters ,*# ,)

olitics ,3# ,4

$rimes ,0# ,*0

- 5

olitics ,5 # ,*+

$rimes ,*)# ,*-

Disasters ,/# ,**

0 * olitics ,-

7 * Disasters ,7

*- * $rimes ,*3

)+


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#a)le 5 Page distribution SET II

um)er ofpages

Amountof articles

#opic Articles

) 7

olitics ,*7#,)0#

$rimes ,*4# ,)+# ,-+

,ealth ,))$ ,)5#,)7

- -

$rimes ,*5# ,*/

,ealth ,)*

0 * olitics ,)3

* ,ealth ,)4

3 * olitics ,)-

4 * olitics ,)/

The ta"les a"ove organiFe the headlines into groups depending on the num"er o(

pages the1 contain. ' can conclude that topics discussed in the articles tend to "e

compressed mostl1 into t&o to three pages# occasionall1 eceeding this length. ,o&ever#

issues dealing &ith a delicate content or long term and repeated situations tend to spread

over man1 more pages than usual. The possi"le reason &h1 the1 are longer might "e due to

the (act that people anal1se the discussed issues in more detail. The more etensive (ormat

is also due to the (act that the1 are accompanied "1 more photographs than other ne&s

in order to "ring closer and illustrate the topic discussed and help the reader picture

the situation. The1 also sometimes include videos. The shorter articles are mostl1 oneBo((s

that deal &ith immediate situations &hich &ill pro"a"l1 not happen again in the (uture.

Apart (rom the photographs and videos# some articles also contain su"articles that are in

some &a1 related to the topic discussed in them and in a &a1 eplain the situation in more

detail.

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$omparing these t&o sets# ' can conclude that the structure o( "oth sets seems to "e

ver1 similar. The representation o( the articles &ith the same length is almost the same.

Set ' contains si articles spreading over t&o pages and si &ith three pages# Set '' has

eight t&oBpage articles and three &ith three pages. $oncerning the topics o( the articles

"eing discussed over t&o to three pages# all the topics >&ithin the given limited range@ are

represented# i.e. politics# crime# health and disasters.

=oth sets contain one article that spreads over man1 more pages than usual. 'n Set '# it

is ,*3 that deals &ith the case o( a neglected child &hich had "een going on (or a certain

period o( time and is accompanied "1 man1 photographs o( the child itsel( and persons

involved in his case. There are altogether nine photographs in the &hole article. The article

contains another article and a list o( reports preceding this case. The other article (rom

the second set ,)/ has nine pages and nine photographs. Moreover# it also contains three

videos (rom the scene in Eg1pt and t&o another su"articles &ith additional in(ormation

a"out the topic.

*.* #he Length of Headlines and Su)headlines

As to the length o( headlines# as o"served (rom the list displa1ed "elo there is a

tendenc1 to produce medium to long headlines# especiall1 in the Set ' &hich contains

headlines &ith at least (ive &ords. Set '' contains one headline &ith t&o &ords onl1 and

one &ith (our &ords. The length o( the rest o( headlines ranges (rom (ive to eight &ords.

As (ar as the length o( su"headlines is concerned# since their role is to eplain the headline

and are there(ore more developed# the1 are considera"l1 longer then headlines and consist

o( at least one developed sentence# there(ore are more in(ormative than headlines &hich

tend to "e ver1 "rie(.

))


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IssueH o HeadlineS no Su)headline

)*+*-+ ,* 5 !rits dead in 2eru air crashS* 9;! holida1ing =rits &ere among si people %illed &hen their light aircra(t

crashed during a sightB seeing trip in eru# it &as revealed 1esterda1.)*+*-+ ,) !rit found dead in Maldives

S) A ='T'S, pu" landlad1 has "een (ound dead in the Maldives.

*+*-+ ,- 2M defends cut in child )enefitsS- DA2'D $ameron toda1 de(ended his governments plans to scrap child "ene(it (or

the "etter o(( (amilies./*+*-+ ,0 (ay prince killed aide during se9

S0 A SA!D' prince "attered his manservant to death during a ga1 se session in a (ivestar hotel# a court heard 1esterda1.

0*+*-+ ,3 Fury at Harry traitor dramaS3 '8$E ,arr1 &as last night (urious at a ne& $hannel 0 drama that sho&s him

captured "1 the TAL'=A8 B and turning TA'T;.1*+*-+ ,5 !alls ;ife tops ca)inetG poll

S5 N2ETTE $ooper &as last night tipped to "eat hus"and Ed =alls to "ecome shado&$hancellor.

1*+*-+ ,/ Sludge as )ig as !2 oil spill

S/ T;O'$ sludge in ,ungar1 has no& claimed seven lives B and it is thought the scaleo( the disaster is e


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Date H o HeadlineS no Su)headline

*/H+*H)+** ,*5 De;ani to return to South AfricaS*5 T,E hus"and o( hone1moon murder victim Anni De&ani ma1 voluntaril1 return to South

A(rica to (ace trial over her %illing# it &as claimed toda1.)*H+*H)+** ,*/ Murdered )ride Michaela )uried in ;edding dress

S*/ M;!8ES gathered in 'reland toda1 united in grie( at the (uneral o( murderedhone1moon "ride Michaela McAreave1.

)0H+*H)+** ,*7 Cueens *yrs orf for 3ills and :ateS*7 T,E ueen told rince 6illiam and ate Middleton the1 can sta1 out o( the spotlight (orthe (irst t&o 1ears o( their marriage.

)0H+*H)+** ,*4 2rem Lge star )ankrupt after property scamS*4 EM'E League ace Iason Euell has gone "an%rupt a(ter "eing scammed in a propert1

venture.)5H+*H)+** ,)+ #a)ak Jail s;itch over attack fears

S)+ T,E man accused o( murdering Io Neats &as moved to a di((erent prison 1esterda1 amid(ears (or his sa(et1.

)/H+*H)+** ,)* Mum dies as drunks clog AKES)* A M!M died a(ter &aiting (ive hours in an AE department Cclogged up &ith drun%s#

her hus"and claimed last night.

)4H+*H)+** ,)) :iller )ug from India hits 5++ !ritsS)) A DEADLN ne& super"ug resistant to anti"iotics has struc% do&n hundreds o( =rits a(terspreading here (orm 'ndia and a%istan.

+)H+)H)+** ,)- -ro;ds clash as Egypt riots roll onS)- 9'P,T'8P has "ro%en out in $airo "et&een thousands o( supporters and opponents o(

Eg1ptian t1rant ,osni Mu"ara%.+)H+)H)+** ,)0 3ills in a ;edding snu) to the stars

S)0 '8$E 6illiam and ate Middleton are to snu" cele"s hoping (or invites to their&edding

+)H+)H)+** ,)3 (et ca)in cre; Jo)$ )lo; up !.A. planeS)3 A ='T'S, Air&a1s &or%er &as given secret orders (rom a terror chie( urging him to get

a ca"in cre& Go" so he could "lo& up a !SB"ound Get# a court heard 1esterda1.

+)H+)H)+** ,)5 #akea;ays facing ,$+++ fat ta9S)5 ,EALT,Bconscious councillors &ant to slap a *#+++ Q(at taQ on ta%ea&a1s B in an e((ort

to tac%le o"esit1.

+0H+)H)+** ,)/ an mo;s do;n Egypt protestersS)/ T,'S horri(ic video captures the moment a police van careered through a cro&d o( people

during 1esterda1Rs $airo riots.+0H+)H)+** ,)7 3hy are !ritish ;omen so fat

S)7 ! &omen are more li%el1 than men to &eigh over -+st# a stud1 sa1s.+4H+)H)+** ,)4 !ritish girl dies in US )uttock op

S)4 A ='T'S, girl has died a(ter having "ottom implants (itted B in a !S motel room.*+H+)H)+** ,-+ !ig !utt Sasha is @uiBBed )y cops over fi9G

S-+ A 9'OE "eing


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-HA2#E' 4 #HE '%LE %F HEADLIES

=e(ore the actual anal1sis# some clari(ication o( terminolog1 and identi(ication o(

the individual parts "eing discussed is needed. 9or the purpose o( the discourse anal1sis#

thirt1 headlines# divided into t&o sets depending on the date o"tained# have "een chosen#

each la"eled &ith the letter , and appertaining num"er. 6ith re(erence to su"headlines#

the1 comprise o( the letter S and the same num"er as headlines. 'n the corpus# all headlines

are accompanied "1 a su"headline.

The headline is a uni


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interest in the potential reader# &ho# on average# is a person &hose e1e moves s&i(tl1 do&n

a page and stops &hen something catches his attention...C.

,eadlines should outline &hat the article is a"out# ho&ever# man1 times &e might

come across headlines that might not "e *447: )0@ claims# Can etra

dimension o( meaning. As to the punctuation in the headlines# there is none used.

A common (eature o( the anal1Fed headlines is the shoc%ing content. As has alread1

"een mentioned# ta"loid ne&spapers# namel1 The Sun# engage in sensational and

scandalous themes.

,eadlines do not reveal a su((icient amount o( in(ormation in their content. The1 do

so in order to encourage the reader into reading (urther. The1 should "e vague to arouse

curiosit1 and dra& attention. C'n a spo%en or &ritten# visual or auditor1 discourse

)5


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the spea%er must ena"le the addressee to identi(1 the entities mentioned in the tet "1 using

appropriate re(erring epression. A spea%er &ho uses a de(inite re(erring epression

presupposes that a mental representation o( the entit1 "eing re(erred to eists in

the addressees mind >ronrod Engel# )++*@. That is# the spea%er should provide

enough in(ormation (or the reader to decode the meaning o( such tet success(ull1.

4., #he 'ole of Su)headlines

Although in this su"chapter ' am going to eplain the (unction o( su"headline# &hile

searching (or the material (or m1 thesis ' have not come across an1 de(inition o(

su"headlines# ho&ever# there are de(initions o( the lead &hich# together &ith the headline

should "e part o( the ne&s article# "ut m1 anal1sis has proved that no lead is present in

the articles# there(ore a(ter thorough consideration ' have come to the conclusion that

the (unction o( the lead has "een ta%en over "1 the su"headlines. Lead generall1 starts

the paragraph o( the article and is part o( it# not separated paragraph# ho&ever# su"headline

is usuall1 &ritten either in "old or in a di((erent colour and is shorter.

As there is no de(inition (or su"headlines# "ut the1 appear to (ul(ill the same

(unction as the lead# ' &ill start (irst &ith the de(inition o( the lead. As =ell >*44*: *3+#

*3)@ states# the lead paragraph is a nucleus o( evaluation UitV (ocuses the stor1 in a

particular direction. The lead (unctions as a summar1 o( the tet# i.e. "rie(l1 in(orms the

reader a"out the content o( the article and is (urther summariFed "1 the headline# &hich is

even "rie(er than the su"headline.

't is important to note that the su"headlines in the articles in the online version o(

The Sundi((er (rom the su"headlines in the printed (orm o( the articles. The1 var1 in siFe#

the online version has a "igger (ont and is &ritten in "old# &hereas in the hard cop1 the1 are

indistinguisha"le (rom the rest o( the tet. The1 appear to "e a part o( the actual article and

are the (irst thing to (ollo& a(ter the headline and could also "e considered a lead in that

)/


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case. Lead# according to =ell >*44*: *04@# CsummariFes the central action and esta"lishes

the point o( the stor1. The lead has an important (unction# "ecause it helps the reader to

decide &hether to continue reading or to move on to the net article. 't a"stracts the stor1

and is created "1 Gournalists unli%e the headline# &hich is added as the last piece o(

in(ormation "1 the editors and a"stracts the lead. Su"headlines seem to (ul(ill all o( these

(unctions# there(ore the1 could "e treated as leads.

Su"headlines# although the1 are produced "1 a di((erent person than the headlines#

epand and in man1 cases render the meaning o( the vague and o"scure headlines and help

the reader to decipher &hat the article is a"out. There(ore the1 are an important element in

the ne&s that cannot "e omitted. The ta"le "elo& demonstrates the di((erence "et&een

the headline and the su"headline as to the length and the content.

The headlines di((er (rom the su"headlines not onl1 "1 their length and the content#

"ut also "1 the structure and attractiveness. Su"headlines are more in(ormative and less

sensational since the1 rel1 more on contetual rather than visual aspect.

#a)le / Headline vs. subheadline

o Headlines Su)headline

H+, 5 !rits dead in2eru air crash

9;! holida1ing =rits &ere among si people %illed&hen their light aircra(t crashed during a sightB seeingtrip in eru# it &as revealed 1esterda1.

H,/ !a)y 2 coverup isfinally )lo;n

T,E true horror o( ho& =a"1 &as doomed "1 onehorri(1ing "lunder a(ter another &as 9'8ALLN laid "are1esterda1 B along &ith a shame(ul 6,'TE6AS,.

H*+ #a)ak Jail s;itchover attack fears

T,E man accused o( murdering Io Neats &as moved to adi((erent prison 1esterda1 amid (ears (or his sa(et1.

H*1!ritish girl dies inUS )uttock op

A ='T'S, girl has died a(ter having "ottom implants (itted Bin a !S motel room.

)7


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An interesting (eature o( TheSunsu"headlines is the use o( capitals (or &ords in

the initial position o( the sentence. '( this place is occupied "1 the inde(inite article#

the (ollo&ing &ord is also capitaliFed# ho&ever# i( the position is ta%en "1 a de(inite article#

the &ord &hich (ollo&s is &ritten in standard case as is sho&n in ,)+. ;ther &ords# &hich

are also &ritten in capitals# are those# &hich are emphasiFed# as illustrated in ,*3. 't is

pro"a"l1 done so to emphasiFe the &ord and to attract readers attention.

)4


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-HA2#E' 5 ('AMMA#I-AL S#'U-#U'ES %F HEADLIES AD

SU!HEADLIES

5., -lause Structure of Headlines and Su)headlines

'n this chapter ' &ould li%e to (ocus on the grammatical structure o( headlines and

su"headlines. M1 anal1sis o( ver"al phrases in the Set ' in terms o( compleit1 indicates

that the simple structure o( ver"al phrases prevails. Simple clause consists o( one

independent clause and contains a ver" and a su"Gect. ;ut o( (i(teen headlines# as man1 as

eleven consist o( simple clauses. There are no comple ver"al phrases included in the (irst

set o( headlines. The remaining (our instances are ver"less. A possi"le eplanation (or this

(inding is that ta"loid headlines tend to "e "rie( and short and rel1 more on attraction rather

than in(ormativeness as is the case o( serious ne&spapers. 6ith re(erence to the Set ''#

the structure o( headlines varies slightl1. According to the ta"le# three sentences are

incomplete# since the1 contain no ver". The amount o( the simple sentences is slightl1

lo&er than in Set '# as there are onl1 nine simple clauses compared to the (irst set &hich

has eleven such clauses. ,eadlines ,)* and ,)- are constructed o( comple clauses.

A comple clause has one independent clause Goined "1 a su"ordinator asto a dependent

clause. ,eadline ,)3 is an instance o( a compound clause# in &hich "oth clauses are

independent and are Goined "1 a comma. The actual coordinator andis omitted.

The structure o( su"headlines di((ers considera"l1 (rom the structure o( headlines.

Since su"headlines are more detailed and longer# than headlines# there is a tendenc1 to use

more comple clauses than in headlines. !nli%e the headlines (rom the corpus# &hich in

some cases lac% a ver"# the su"headlines consist o( at least one (inite ver". As the ta"le

"elo& indicates# there is a slight di((erence "et&een "oth anal1sed sets o( su"headlines.

As (or the simple clauses# onl1 in (our cases o( "oth sets the su"headlines are composed o(

these t1pes o( clauses# the rest o( the su"headlines comprises o( comple clauses# &hereas

-+


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in Set '# in addition to simple and comple clauses# also compound sentences occur.

M1 anal1sis o( the clause structure suggests that comple clauses prevail in the corpus.

#a)le 0 Clauses structure in headlines

#ype of ver)al phrase SE# , SE#*2er"less clauses ,+*# ,+3# ,+/# ,+4 ,*7# ,)+# ,)0Simple clauses ,+)# ,+-# ,+0# ,+5# ,+7#

,*+# ,**# ,*)# ,*-# ,*0#,*3

,*5# ,*/# ,*4# ,))# ,)5#,)/# ,)7# ,)4# ,-+

$omple clauses + ,)*# ,)-$ompound clauses + ,)3

#a)le 7 Clauses structure in subheadlines

#ype of ver)al phrase SE# ,N SE#*N2er"less clauses + +Simple clauses S+)# S+-# S+7# S+4 S*/# S)-# S)/# S)7$omple clauses S+*# S+0# S+3# S+5# S*+# S**#

S*)# S*0# S*3S*5# S*7# S*4# S)+# S)*#S))# S)0# S)3# S)5# S)4#S-+

$ompound clauses S+/# S*-

5.,., #ypes of Speech Acts in Headlines and Su)headlines

egarding the t1pes &hich the sentences ta%e# there are (our t1pes# namel1

statements# commands# eclamations and


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the anal1Fed material and onl1 one instance o( a


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e.g. run, eat@# primary ver)s 2be, have, anddo@ and modal ve)s >e.g. can, will, might@.

These classes are distinguished "1 their roles as main ver"s and auiliar1 ver"s.

English has t&o t1pes o( ver" phrases: (inite and nonB(inite. 9inite ver" phrases are

mar%ed (or tense# aspect# voice# modalit1# negation and clause structure t1pe. The1 can "e

mar%ed either (or tense or modalit1 "ut never (or "oth. '( the1 are in(lected (or tense# it is

either (or past or (or present# since onl1 these t&o t1pes o( tenses eist in English# other

Ctenses are created "1 the use o( modals or auiliaries >=i"er et al. *444: 03) B 03-@.

Since m1 corpus contains also headlines &ithout ver"s and this group is smaller

than the ver"al group# ' &ill deal &ith this categor1 (irst.

5.*., er)less -lauses

$onsidering the space o( headlines &hich is limited# there is a tendenc1 to condense

the tet o( headlines. There(ore man1 clauses# including some ver"s# are usuall1 omitted.

This omission is called ellipsis. The LPS6E de(ines the ellipsis as Cthe omission o(

elements &hich are precisel1 recovera"le (rom the linguistic or situational contet >=i"er

et al.*444: *35@. Even &hen the &ord is omitted (rom the tet# the meaning is preserved.

'( the ver" is missing in the clause# the action is usuall1 implied &ithin the noun

phrase# that is# the ver" is turned into a noun. These clauses are re(erred to as nominal

headlines and the process o( this trans(ormation is called nominaliBation. As 9o&ler

>*44*: /4@ claims CEnglish is a XnominaliFing language and Xit is structurall1 possi"le#

and actuall1 common# (or predicates >ver"s and adGectives@ to "e realiFed s1ntacticall1 as

nouns: these are called derived nominals. There are man1 &ords in English &hich

denominate actions and processes not o"Gects. The corpus contains (our headlines >,+*#

,+3# ,+/# ,+4@ in the (irst set and three headlines >,*7# ,)+# ,)0@ in the second set

&hich lac% the ver". All (our representatives o( the ver"less group in the (irst set o(

headlines di((er in their structure. 'n the (irst one >,+*@# the action is implied in

--


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the adGective dead. ,+3 is an instance o( nominaliFation o( the ver"# &here instead o(

the use o( the ver" to be "urious# this is trans(ormed into the noun "ury. The nominal

structure shi(ts the (ocus (rom the actorHarryon the noun"urry. 'n the second eample

>,/@ the headline lac%s the ver" to be# &hich &ould other&ise# com"ined &ith the adGective

big,(unction as a (ull ver". The last eample in the group >,4@ "ecause o( the missing ver"#

provides no in(ormation on &hat has happened. The action is# ho&ever# less important then

the noun "illies# &hich re(ers to ver1 1oung ladies that had "een appointed to

the (ront"ench. There(ore the ver" is redundant and &hat has happened can "e retrieved

(rom the contet.

All headlines >,*7# ,)+# ,)0@ o( the non ver"al categor1 o( the Set '' are instances

o( nominaliFation &here the action is implied "1 the use o( a noun phrase.

5.*.* er)al -lauses" Distri)ution of #enses in Headlines and Su)headlines

As has alread1 "een mentioned# English is mar%ed onl1 (or t&o tenses# present and

past. The present tense re(ers to events in the past# present situations and ha"itual "ehavior#

or to (uture events. ;n the other hand# the past tense is used to re(er to states or events in

the past. ,o&ever# i( the ver" is in the present per(ect it is not mar%ed (or the tense "ut

rather (or the aspect# since the tense re(ers to past or present# the aspect relates to

the situations &hich are incomplete. There(ore the present per(ect tense is used in

the situation &hich "egan sometime in the past "ut continues in the present.

9irst o( all ' &ill deal &ith the categor1 o( headlines in the present per(ect tense. This t1pe

o( aspect does not occur ver1 (re


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the (act# that the in(ormation is not (inite and is presented as an assumption and the use o(

modal ver" allo&s the in(ormation to "e presented as a speculation rather than the (act#

&hich is an instance o( modalit1 that &ill "e discussed (urther in m1 thesis. ,*+ is

epressed in the same tense as the headline.

Another su"categor1 o( ver"als includes the present simple tense&hich re(ers to

past events. This tense is also called the historic present. This t1pe o( tense occurs in order

Cto produce a more vivid description as i( the events &ere "eing enacted at the time o(

speech >=i"er et al. *444: 030@. 't is said to "e conventionall1 used in headlines# ho&ever#

m1 anal1sis con(irmed onl1 t&o cases >,+-# ,+5#@ occurring in the Set '. S+-# ho&ever# is

in the past tense# &hereas S+5 in the passive voice.

Thesimple past tenseis used onl1 in the (irst set o( headlines in t&o cases >,+0#

,*-@. 't is not surprising since as has previousl1 "een mentioned the use o( the past tense is

not as (re=i"er et al.

*444: )*4@. The imperative is used in the situations &here the addressee is %no&n and

there(ore not needed and it orders himHher to doHnot to do something immediatel1 there(ore

no tense# aspect and modals are necessar1 >see =i"er et al. *444: )*4@. 'n m1 anal1sis there

is onl1 one such instance# ,** in Set '# ho&ever# this clause in not a t1pical imperative#

since it contains the su"Gect and there is no one &ho should carr1 out the given command

-3


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(rom the headline. 't is used (or other purposes than to instruct someone to do something#

since the su"headline eplains that there has "een a cele"ration o( the rescued miners#

there(ore the headline suggests that the unnamed person >the "ar tender@ should pour them a

large drin%.

According to =i"er et al. >*444: 035@# Cthere is no (ormal futuretensein English

and UitV is t1picall1 mar%ed in the ver" phrase "1 modal or semiBmodal ver"s such as

will, shall, be going to3. ,o&ever# modals are omitted most o( the time in headlines due to

the saving space and the (uture events are there(ore epressed "1 the in(initive# as is

the case o( ,+7. The ver" to beand an auiliar1 ver"going to*willis omitted and replaced

"1 a shorter version o( ver" to start. $ompound (uture (orms are usuall1 su"stituted "1

more simple (orms o( ver"s (or economic reasons. S+7 is epressed "1 the modal ver)

could 4 start.

The last categor1 o( Set ' concentrates on clauses in passive voice. According to

LEP# Cactive voice and passive voice re(ers to the (orm o( a ver". 'n the active# the su"Gect

o( the ver" is the person or thing doing the action...in the passiveK the action is done to

the su"Gect >Aleander *477: )0*@. egarding the use o( active and passive voice in

headlines# active is used &hen the (ocus is on the agent o( the action &hereas passive shi(ts

the (ocus on the happening rather than &hat or &ho causes the happening# i.e. &e are not

interested in the doer. =i"er et al. >*444: 0//@ also claim that the use o( passive in ne&s is

"ecause the stor1 (ocuses on the event &hich involves an a((ected person or institution

rather than the agent &hich is %no&n# easil1 identi(ia"le in the contet or not interesting.

T&o (orms o( passive structures are possi"le: long passive &here the agent is epressed

&ith byphrase and short passive &ith the agent omitted . =i"er et al.>*444: 0//@ claim that

the long passive constructions are more (re


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>,+)# ,*)# ,*0@# &hereas ,*3 contains the ver". S+) and S*0 are "oth in present per(ect

tense# S*3 is in the past tense and in S*) is the passive (orm o( blackmailedepressed in

active (orm and (ocus o( the person a((ected "1 this crime is shi(ted to the person accused

o( committing the crime and the present per(ect tense is used.

Set '' di((ers in the tense representation slightl1 (rom the Set '. Altogether si

headlines (rom the Set '' are instances &here the present simple tense is used >,)*# ,))#

,)-# ,)/# ,)7# ,)4@. Su"headlines &ith the present per(ect are S))# S)-# S)4# in S)*# S)/

the past tense is used and S+7 uses the present tense.

Although# as =i"er et al. >*444: ))*@ claim# the use o( imperatives in ne&s is rare#

as ne&s is nonBinteractive contrar1 to conversations &hich are interactive# "ut i( the1 occur#

most o( the times Cthe1 give instructions on ho& to per(orm certain actionsC# &hich is

eactl1 ho& it is used in ,)3# to instruct the su"Gect to carr1 out certain tas%# unli%e (rom

the previous set# &here it &as used di((erentl1. Even the su"headline con(irms this claim#

&hen it eplains# ho& the person (rom the article &as ordered to Xget a ca"in cre& Go" to

"lo& up =.A. plane. The su"headline is epressed "1 the passive voice.

,eadlines ,*/# ,*4 and ,-+ are in passive voice. 9irst t&o have the (inite ver" be

omitted# the last one does not. All o( their su"headlines are epressed di((erentl1. S*/ is

converted to active voice and in(orms a"out the mourners that gathered in the (uneral o(

the "ride and the ver" is in past tense. S*4 is in present per(ect &hereas S-+ although it is

in the passive voice its ver" to "e is epressed "1 a progressive (orm.

Similarl1 as in the previous set# the (uture in headline ,*5 is epressed &ith

the in(initive to return. The su"headline epresses also (uturit1 "ut it is done so "1 the use

o( a modal ver" may.

The last headline to "e anal1Fed in terms o( tenses used is ,)5# &hich as the onl1

one (rom the corpus is in gerund that epresses the possi"le (uture action. The su"headline

-/


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is in the present tense.

To conclude this chapter# ' can state that the use o( tenses in headlines varies.

There(ore# ' cannot agree &ith =i"er et al. >*444: 035@ &ho claim that "oth tenses >past and

present@ are used in approimatel1 the same ratio in ne&s. M1 (indings sho& that there is

no clear pre(erence (or a certain t1pe o( a tense and the representation o( tenses and aspects

is more or less heterogeneous "oth i( Gudging the sets separatel1 or as a &hole. ,o&ever# in

Set '' the group &ith the present simple tense is the most numerous &ith si representatives

out o( all headlines in this set. The Set ' has heterogeneous representation o( tenses

distri"uted more or less evenl1 &ith the passive group slightl1 prevailing.

9o&ler >*44*: /7@ claims that Cpassive is a common structure in headlines. 9rom

m1 o"servations ' can argue that it is not the case# since onl1 in seven out o( thirt1

headlines# out o( &hich t&ent1 three are ver"al# (rom m1 corpus the passive (orm is used.

egarding the representation o( ver"al and ver"less clauses in the anal1sed sets#

the proportion is rather "alanced.

-7


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#a)le 1 Distribution of tenses SET I

-ategory #ense um)er Headline2er"al resent simpleH

historic present,+- M de(ends cut in child "ene(its,+5 =alls &i(e tops Jca"inetJ poll

'mperative ,** Ma%e miner large one'n(initive ,+7 XMiners rescue to start 6ednesda1ast simple ,+0 Pa1 prince J%illed aideJ during se

,*- aedo a"used (iveBmonthBoldresent per(ect ,*+ !S troops ma1 have J%illed =rit aid

&or%erJassive ,+) =rit (ound dead in Maldives

,*) Se cops victim groped at stationJ,*0 $ele" "lac%mailed over J sensitiveJ

pics,*3 =a"1 coverBup is (inall1 "lo&n

2er"less8HA

,+* 0 =rits dead in eru air crash,+3 9urr1 at ,arr1 JtraitorJ drama,+/ Sludge Jas "ig as = oil spillJ,+4 MiliJs 9illies

#a)le ,+ Distribution of tenses SET II

-ategory #ense um)er Headline

2er"alresentsimpleH,istoric

present

,)* Mum dies as drun%s clog AE,)) iller "ug (rom 'ndia hits 0++ =rits,)- $ro&ds clash as Eg1pt riots roll on,)/ 2an mo&s do&n Eg1pt protesters

,)7 6h1 are =ritish &omen so (atY,)4 =ritish girl dies in !S "uttoc% op'mperative ,)3 Pet ca"in cre& Go"# "lo& up =.A. plane

assive,*/ Murdered "ride Michaela "uried in &edding

dress,*4 rem Lge star "an%rupt a(ter propert1 scam,-+ =ig "utt Sasha is


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-HA2#E' / M%DALI#& I HEADLIES AD SU!HEADLIES

Although ne&spapers should "e impartial and present the reader &ith (acts &ithout

an1 personal attitudes# it is hardl1 the case# and there are man1 language (eatures that

manipulate the message presented. The author o( headlines has the option to manipulate

the tet "1 the selection o( various interpersonal (unctions# that is# to in(luence the

perception o( the event. ;ne o( the (unctions ho& to achieve this and &hich ' &ill "e

dealing &ith in m1 thesis# is the use o( modality. Although# man1 linguists have de(ined

modalit1 in various &a1s# during m1 research ' realiFed that it is not su((icient and there is

more to "e said a"out this topic. 6hile anal1Fing m1 material# ' noticed man1 di((erent

&a1s o( epressing modalit1 &hich ' &ill eplain (urther.

eah >*447: 4*@ asserts that# Cmodalit1 re(ers to the &a1 in &hich a tet can epress

attitudes to&ards a situation# and is usuall1 realiFed in the use o( modal ver)s>can# &ill#

shall# ma1# must# could &ould# should# might@K and in the use o( adver)ssuch as possi"l1#

li%el1.

Another linguist# oger 9o&ler >*44*: 50@# de(ines modalit1 as CGudgments as to

truth >JcorrectJ@# likelihood >Jcertainl1J# JmightJ@# desirability>Jregretta"leJ@K other modal

usages stipulate obligations>JshouldJ# Jought toJ@ and grantpermission>Jma1J@. ,e (urther

claims that the modalit1 can "e epressed either eplicitl1 or implicitl1# that is# it is either

overtl1 stated or not. 'mplicit1 is t1pical (or modal ver"s and most o( stance adver"ials

>9o&ler *44*: 73B75@.

The use o( an auiliar1 ver" indicates a strong possi"ilit1 that the situation &as not

or &ill not "e realiFed. #ill,&hich re(ers to the (uture# (unctions as a prediction and

there(ore epresses uncertaint1 o( the proposition. The presence o( modal epressions in

printed tets enhances their su"Gectivit1# casts dou"ts and evo%es scepticism.

0+


41/80

=i"er et al. >*444: 03/@ claim that Cmodals are used to epress a spea%ers or

&riters stance# epressing either the degree o( >un@certaint1 o( the proposition# or

meanings# such as permission# o"ligation: or necessit1. 't also distinguishes "et&een

intrinsic and etrinsic modalit1# &hich is also re(erred to as JdeonticJ and JepistemicJ

modalit1.

$lauses lac%ing modal ver"s might seem to "e mar%ed (or tense onl1# and modalit1

might not "e overtl1 epressed# it does not necessaril1 mean that the proposition has no

modalit1. There are other possi"ilities ho& the modalit1 in the clauses can "e achieved. ;ne

such option is "1 the use o( adver"ials. Adver"ials epress authorJs stance to&ards a

proposition. The1 are called stance adver)ials. LPS6E eplains that Cstance adver"ials

conve1 spea%ersJ comments on &hat the1 are sa1ing >the content o( the message@ or ho&

the1 are sa1ing it >the st1le@ >=i"er et al. *444: /50@. There are three t1pes o( stance

adver"ials: epistemic# attitudinal# and st1listic.

onZ%ov >)++4: -))@ suggests another &a1 o( epressing the stance in

proposition. 't is done "1 the sentence modality &hich consists o( Cstatements#


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indicate iron1 or apologetic &ords are *473: *5-3@# C


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them contain more than one.

As ' mentioned a"ove# most headlines (rom the anal1sis are statements and those

remaining are either @uestions or imperatives.

Set ' contains one instance o( the imperative clause >,**@# &here it re(ers to

the picture accompan1ing the headline and instructing an unde(ined person to pour a "ig

glass o( champagne to cele"rate the rescue. According to onZ%ov >)++4: -)-@#

Ccommand is out o( all modal t1pes the most directive. 'ts t1pical (orm is a direct appeal.

Su"headline# ho&ever# onl1 in(orms the reader a"out the cele"ration &ithout the use o(

imperative or an1 other modal mar%er.

'n ,7 the modalit1 is epressed "1 the use o( an infinitive&hich re(ers to (uture

that is mar%ed (or modalit1 due to the standard use o( modals and semiBmodals to epress

(uturit1. 'n this case the use o( in(initive denotes a shorten version o( (uturit1. 9uturit1 here

serves as a prediction# that is# the event ma1 or ma1 not "e realiFed. The statement there(ore

is in the position o( a mere assumption and could change. The su"headline corresponds

&ith this statement "ecause it also epresses it as a presupposition "1 the use o( the modal

could.

As has alread1 "een mentioned previousl1# ver"al (inite clauses &hich are not

mar%ed (or tense# are generall1 mar%ed (or modalit1. This is the case o( t&o headlines (rom

the Set '. The headline ,*+ contains an auiliar1 may have and there(ore &ea%ens

the evaluation# and "ecause o( the use o( modal ver)is mar%ed (or modalit1. 't is presented

as a tentative evaluation and so is the su"headline &hich also contains an auiliar1 ver".

Even the tet presents this in(ormation such as mere speculation and &hat eactl1 happened

is not con(irmed 1et. ,o&ever# the (ocus in the su"headline is shi(ted (rom the agent

epressed in the headline to the patient in the su"headline "1 the use o( passive structure in

the headline. 8evertheless# the meaning o( "oth is the same and the1 are presented as

the speculation rather than the (act.

0-


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Modalit1 epressed "1 the stance adver)ial is present in ,*3 &hich epresses

the attitude to&ards the proposition "1 using the term "inally. The adver"ial indicates that

the case had "een going on (or a long time &ithout resolution and has "een solved at last.

The same adver"ial is used in su"headlines.

=i"er et al. >*444:/50@ claim that Cmost sentences in English do not contain stance

adver"ials. ather# the1 are statements made &ithout overt stance mar%ers. As is apparent

(rom m1 anal1sis# there are not man1 cases o( these t1pes o( mar%ers used. Much more

o(ten# the headlines and su"headlines contain other t1pes o( modalit1.

As (or the naming strateg1 used in ,*)# it emplo1s rather a"usive &a1 o( re(erring

to the person accused o( committing a crime. The term is mar%ed since it descri"es

the person in a particular &a1 invo%ing in readers certain "iased opinions to&ards

the person descri"ed and (rom this statement it is easil1 identi(ia"le &hose side the media is

on. The similar case occurs in ,0 &here the person accused o( committing a crime is titled

gay,although his orientation has not "een proven in the tet o( the article 1et# in &hich this

person actuall1 denies such accusations# even though# the evidence might "e suggesting

other&ise. There(ore such denomination might "e misleading. The su"headline though#

re(ers to the person "1 a more accurate denomination# a Saudi prince,and the proposition is

more care(ul in its claim a"out the seual orientation o( the prince# and onl1 mentions

the situation during &hich the incident occurred# and indirectl1 implies his seual

pre(erences.

'n ,5# 5vette opper,&ho is identi(ied in the su"headline "1 her (ull name# is in

the headline re(erred to via her hus"and as6all7s wi"e and not as an individual.

Spea%ing o( the use o( proper names# The Sungenerall1 re(ers to people involved in

the article "1 their (irst name &hich# as eah >*447: 3/@ claims# Csuggests either e


45/80

sound less serious# "ut in the case o( ta"loids# &hich have a light content as (ar as the topics

are concerned# the choice o( &ords is reasona"le.

The last and also the most numerous group to "e discussed is the group containing

the headlines &ith inverted commas or else


46/80

this case the ans&er is to "e (ound in the article.

,*5# "1 the use o( the infinitive &hich epresses (uturit1 o( the statement suggests

De&aniJs plan (or returning to A(rica# ho&ever# this presupposition is &ea%en in

the su"headline "1 the use o( the modal auiliar1 may. As is (urther in the tet eplained#

!ewaniis not actuall1 planning to do so "ut# instead# suggests that he &ould consider such

option i( it &as necessar1.

Loaded ;ords>emotive language@ are other mar%ers o( modalit1 emplo1ed in ,)/#

&here the phrase mows downmeans to %ill man1 people in a cruel &a1 and there(ore

appeals to the (eelings o( the readers and ma1 in(luence their perception o( a given

situation.

,)5# ,*5# ,-+ are instances o( modalit1 epressed "1 inverted commas. ,)5 and

,-+ represent a use o( inverted commas in the situation &here the author uses the term

&hich is not recogniFed# i.e. &ould not normall1 "1 used in such contet# there(ore signals

hisHher distance (rom the


47/80

pro"a"l1 "ecause even i( the person &as identi(ied in the headline and the su"headline "1

her (ull name# it &ould carr1 no in(ormation value (or the readers unless the person is

someho& %no&n to the readers# either "ecause o( her social status# or (rom the previous

tets. The tet itsel(# ho&ever# identi(ies this Cmum "1 her (ull name.

The last three headlines to "e discussed in the chapter are those that use slang

;ords. Slang is an in(ormal language that uses &ords &hich replace more general terms

that &ould "e used instead. 't is a language that is usuall1 used "1 a particular group

o( people. ,)*# ,)4# ,-+. S)* and S-+ also contain slang &ords# ho&ever# S)4 replaces

the term buttockop&ith more general and neutral epression bottom implants "itted.

#a)le ,, Type of modality in headlines SET I

#ype of modality Set I Headline

Statements ;No overt e9pression ofmodality

0 =rits dead in eru air crash H+,

=rit (ound dead in Maldives H+*

M de(ends cuts in child "ene(its H+4

aming strategy

Gayprince %illed aideduring se H+5

alls !ifetops ca"inetpoll H+0

"ili#s9illies H+1

$Se% cop#svictim groped at station H,*

2eadoa"used (iveBmonthBold H,4

Inverted comas

Pa1 prince %illed aideduring se H+5

9ur1 at ,arr1 RtraitorR drama H+/

=alls &i(e tops ca"inetpoll H+0

Sludge Ras "ig as = oil spillR H+7

Miners rescue to start 6ednesda1R H+6

!S troops ma1 have R%illed =rit aid &or%erR H,+

RSe cops victim groped at stationR H,*

$ele" "lac%mailed over RsensitiveR pics H,5

Infinitive RMiners rescue to start6ednesda1R H+6

Imperative "a&eminer large one H,,

Modal au9iliary !S troops may have $&illed=rit aid &or%erR H,+

Stance adver)ial =a"1 coverBup isfinally"lo&n H,/

#a)le ,* Type of modality in headlines SET II

0/


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#ype of modality Set II Headline

Statements ;No overt e9pression ofmodality

iller "ug (rom 'ndia hits 0++ =rits H**

rem Lge star "an%rupt a(ter propert1 scam H,1

$ro&ds clash as Eg1pt riots roll on H*4

Cuestions 6h1 are =ritish &omen so (atY H*6

Loaded ;ords 2an mo!s do!nEg1pt protesters H*7

aming strategy

De!aniRto return to South A(ricaR H,0

Murdered "ride"ichaela"uried in &edding

H,7

ueenJs )1rs o(( (or 'ill(sand)ate H,6

Taba&Gail s&itch over attac% (ears H*+

"umdies as drun%s clog AE H*,

'illsin a &edding snu" to the stars H*5

Slang

=ig =utt Sasha is


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the use o( various linguistic devices to %eep the distance (rom &hat is "eing claimed as i(

not to "ac% up hisHhers assertions.

/., Assertion and Assumption in Headlines and Su)headlines

Seeing that ne&spapers# especiall1 ta"loids li%e The Sun is# tr1 to attract interest

o( potential reader# the1 must produce e1eBcatching headlines. There(ore headline authors

attempt to ma%e them sound and loo% as trust&orth1 and accurate as possi"le# ho&ever# this

might sometimes lead to am"iguit1 and overBassertion.

'n this su"chapter ' &ill (ocus on the assertion and assumption in headlines and

su"headlines and the relationship "et&een these t&o entities. ' &ould li%e to eamine ho&

the individual headlines and su"headlines are presented and perceived in ne&spapers.

$r1stal >)++7: -4@ de(ines assertion as Ca term used in pragmatics and semantics

in its ordinar1 sense o( presenting in(ormation as true# "ut also more technicall1 (or that

portion o( the in(ormation encoded in a sentence &hich is presented "1 the spea%er as true#

as opposed to that portion &hich is merel1 presupposed. ,e (urther de(ines

presuppositionas "a condition which must !e satis#ed i$ a particular

state o$ a%airs is to o!tain& or (in relation to language) what a spea'er

assumes in saying a particular sentence& as opposed to what is actually

asserted (Crystal 2008: 8) 'n this case# ' &ill re(er to the presupposed part as

assumption. LD$E de(ines assumption as a Csomething that 1ou thin% is true although 1ou

have no proo( >Summers *443: 54@.

According to eah >*444: *+5@ Ca po&er(ul tool (or conve1ing meaning is the &a1

in &hich language can assume a particular meaning &ithout directl1 asserting it.

'n this sense# assertion is presented as a (act# as something &hich is "ased on

evidence on the other hand# assumption is presented as an tentative evaluation &hich lac%s

evidence and there(ore is onl1 in the position o( a mere speculation.

04


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9or the purpose o( m1 discourse anal1sis ' have created t&o ta"les &ith (our

categories# t&o (or headlines and t&o (or su"headlines# each divided into t&o

su"categories# &here one represents the assertion and the other the assumption.

According to the Ta"le *+# not all the instances are straight(or&ard in stating

&hether the proposition is the assertion or the assumption. ,4 (or instance# is ver1 vague

and# especiall1 (or those readers not ac


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:ury at ;Harry traitor< dramain ,3# although presented as a simple (act &ithout

an1 mitigating devices# it is ver1 am"iguous and does not state clearl1 &ho or &h1 is

(urious# this is# ho&ever# eplained in the su"headline in more details# &here the reader

learns the ans&er to these


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#a)le ,4 Distribution of assertion and assumption in headlines and subheadlines SET I

HEADLIENASSE'#I%

HEADLIENASSUM2#I%

SU!HEADLIENASSE'#I%

SU!HEADLIEN ASSUM2#I%

H+,N5 !rits dead in 2eru aircrash

9;! holida1ing =rits!ereamong si people&illed&hen their lightaircra(t crashed during a

sightB seeing trip in eru#it &as revealed 1esterda1.

H+*N!rit found dead inMaldives

A ='T'S, pu" landlad1has )een found deadinthe Maldives.

H+4N2M defends cut in child)enefits

DA2'D $ameron toda1defendedhisgovernments plans toscrap child "ene(it (or the

"etter o(( (amilies.H+5N(ay prince killed aideduring se9

A SA!D' prince batteredhis manservant to deathduring a ga1 se session

in a (ive star hotel# acourt heard 1esterda1.H+/NFury at Harry traitordrama

'8$E ,arr1 !aslastnightfuriousat a ne&$hannel 0 drama thatsho&s him captured "1the TAL'=A8 B andturning TA'T;.

H+0N!alls ;ife tops ca)inetGpoll

N2ETTE $ooper!aslast nighttipped to beathus"and Ed =allsto "ecome shado&

$hancellor.H+7NSludge as )ig as!2 oil spill

T;O'$ sludge in,ungar1 has no&claimed sevenlives B and it isthoughtthe scaleo( the disaster ise


53/80

have killed !rit aid;orker

=ritish aid &or%erLinda 8orgrovemay have been

&illed"1 agrenade thro&n

"1 !S troopstr1ing to rescueher.

H,,NMake miner largeone

M'LL';8S o( $heleanscele"rated toda1 as the(irst o( the trapped miners

"randed Cnationalheroes "1 the countr1Js

president "egan toemerge.

H,*NSe9 copGs victim gropedat station

A2!L8EA=LE&oman attac&ed

"1 a se predatorcop &ho allegedl1raped (ive &omenand indecentl1assaulted t&o

more %ept hersilence (or ten1ears# a court &astold toda1

H,4N2aedo a)used fivemonthold

A $;MM!8'TN care&or%er has been foundguilty of se%ually

assaultinga (iveBmonthBold "a"1 and allo&ingher "o1(riend to ta%e

photographs o( the a"useon his mo"ile phone.

H,5N-ele) )lackmailed over

sensitive pics

A"*+ has been found

guilty of blac&mailinganinternational superstar&ith Chighl1 sensitive

photos stolen (rom herhome

H,/N!a)y 2 coverup isfinally )lo;n

T,E true horror o( ho&=a"1 &as doomed "1one horri(1ing "lundera(ter another!as,I+*-- laid bare

1esterda1 B along &ith ashame(ul 6,'TE6AS,.

As (ar as the Set '' is concerned# the Ta"le *- sho&s that most o( the headlines

appear to "e assertions# ho&ever# there are some &hich are not so clear and straight(or&ard.

'n ,)5 the use o( gerund o("acingsuggests a possi"le (uture situation &hich might

ta%e place# i.e. it epresses a tentative assertion o( something &hich is planned to "e carried

3-


54/80

out in the (uture. 't is also presented as an assertion in the su"headlines &here the ver"

wantand in(initive is used to epress an intention.

hetorical


55/80

distance the author o( the article (rom &hat is he Xclaiming "1 re(erring to some other voice

responsi"le (or the statement.

,*4 presents the in(ormation as a (act# i.e. as assertion together &ith

the su"headline &hich is# ho&ever# more detailed in description o( the situation. The same

can "e o"served in headlines ,)+# ,)*# ,)-# ,)/# ,)4# ,-+ and their su"headlines.

,)3 is an instance o( a command# "ut (rom the su"headline the reader learns some (acts

a"out the situation. The author o( the statement re(ers to the court# &here the assertion

originates (rom and there(ore shi(ts the responsi"ilit1 o( the statement to some other

organiFation.

2agueness o( ,)0 arouses (or the omission o( the ver". There(ore# (rom

the statement# it is not clear &hether the situation has alread1 happened or is going to

happen. Another important point to mention is that &edding snu" represents a noun phrase

&hich is in a place o( a ver" that &ould normall1 "e used in such situation.

The su"headline# ho&ever# "ecause o( "eing epressed "1 in(initive in place o( the noun

(rom the headline# assumes# &hat is a"out to happen in the (uture.

The anal1sis o( headlines and su"headlines in terms o( the assertion and assumption

sho&s the tendenc1 to present "oth more o(ten as unvarnished (acts i.e. as assertions rather

than assumptions &hich are not so convincing. The possi"le eplanation is# as has alread1

"een mentioned at the "eginning o( this chapter# the tendenc1 o( ne&spapers to produce

articles or more precisel1 headlines that appeal to readers and sound trust&orth1# i.e.

assertions instead o( mere presuppositions# since the1 are less persuasive and there(ore ma1

attract less attention.

33


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#a)le ,5 Distribution of assertion and assumption in headlines and subheadlines SET

II

HEADLIEN

ASSE'#I%

HEADLIEN

ASSUM2#I%

SU!HEADLIEN

ASSE'#I%

SU!HEADLI

ENASSUM2#I%H,0NDe;ani to returnto South Africa

T,E hus"and o(hone1moonmurder victimAnni De&anima1 voluntaril1return to SouthA(rica to (acetrial over her%illing# it &asclaimed toda1.

H,7NMurdered )ride

Michaela )uried in ;eddingdress

M;!8ES gathered in

'reland toda1 united ingrie( at the (uneral o(murdered hone1moon

"ride MichaelaMcAreave1.

H,6N:iller )ug from India hits5++ !rits

A DEADLN ne&super"ug resistant toanti"iotics has struc%do&n hundreds o( =ritsa(ter spreading here (orm'ndia and a%istan.

H,1NCueens *yrs orf for3ills and :ate

T,E ueen toldrince 6illiamand ate

Middleton the1can sta1 out o(the spotlight (orthe (irst t&o1ears o( theirmarriage.

H*+N2rem Lge star )ankruptafter property scam

EM'E League aceIason Euell has gone

"an%rupt a(ter "eingscammed in a propert1venture.

H*,N#a)ak Jail s;itch overattack fears

The man accused o(murdering Io Neats &as

moved to a di((erentprison 1esterda1 amid(ears (or his sa(et1.

35


57/80

H**NMum dies as drunks clogAKE

A M!M died a(ter&aiting (ive hours in anAE departmentCclogged up &ithdrun%s# her hus"andclaimed last night.

H*4N-ro;ds clash as Egyptriots roll on

9'P,T'8P has "ro%enout in $airo "et&eenthousands o( supportersand opponents o(Eg1ptian t1rant ,osniMu"ara%.

H*5N3ills in a ;eddingsnu) to the stars

'8$E6illiam andate Middletonare to snu"cele"s hoping(or invites to

their &eddingH*/N(et ca)in cre;Jo)$ )lo; up !.A. plane

A ='T'S, Air&a1s&or%er &as given secretorders (rom a terror chie(urging him to get a ca"incre& Go" so he could

"lo& up a !SB"ound Get#a court heard 1esterda1.

H*0N#akea;ays facing,$+++ fat ta9

,EALT,Bconsciouscouncillors &antto slap a *#+++Q(at taQ on

ta%ea&a1s B inan e((ort totac%le o"esit1.

H*7Nan mo;s do;n Egyptprotesters

T,'S horri(ic videocaptures the moment a

police van careeredthrough a cro&d o(

people during 1esterda1Rs$airo riots.

H*6N N3hy are !ritish ;omenso fat

! &omen are moreli%el1 than men to &eighover -+st# a stud1 sa1s.

H*1N !ritish girl dies in US

)uttock op

A ='T'S, girl has died

a(ter having "ottomimplants (itted B in a !Smotel room.

H4+N!ig !utt Sasha is @uiBBed)y cops over fi9G

A 9'OE "eing


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-HA2#E' 0 'E(IS#E'

'n this chapter ' &ould li%e to loo% at the aspect o( leis. The choices the author o(

ne&spapers ma%es in terms o( the voca"ular1 usage are important since the1# together &ith

other language devices that had "een discussed previousl1# ma1 in(luence the &a1

the reader &ill perceive the given tets. As 9o&ler >*44*: 7+@ claims# Cin ,allida1s

linguistic theor1# voca"ular1 or leis is a maGor determinant o( ideational structure. A good

point is made "1 eah >*44*:3-@ a"out the eample ho& the language can "e misused# as it

happened in Peorge ;r&ells "oo%%ineteen=ninety "our.

9o&ler >*44*: 7)@ claims that Cvoca"ular1 can "e regardedas a representation o(

the &orld (or a cultureK the &orld as perceived according to the ideological needs o( a

culture.

Since there are not man1 representatives o( each group o( discussed (eatures present

in headlines and su"headlines ' &ill not "e loo%ing at the individual aspect in "oth sets

separatel1 1et as a &hole.

0., Language of Headlines and Su)headlines" Specific 3ords

,eadline &riters have developed special voca"ular1 (or headlines# &hich generall1

does not occur outside ne&spaper reporting. These &ords are usuall1 short in order to save

space &hich is limited# "ut the1 also (ul(ill a (unction o( an attention dra&ing device.

,o&ever# not all these &ords are used in all ne&spapersK some o( them are t1pical (or

the ta"loids onl1 and &ould hardl1 "e (ound in the serious press.

37


59/80

Eamples o( special ne&spaper &ords "ased on LD$E eplanations >*443@:

aid>help such as mone1 or (ood# help or advice@#

a9e >to dismiss# to get rid o(# to reduce@#

)an ? to(or"id# not to allo& something@#

)id ? to o((er# toattempt@#

)last ?eplosion@#

)laBe ?(ire@#

)lo; >hard hit# "ad e((ect# unhapp1 event@#

call>to reto to control or limit something@#

leak>to spread the secret in(ormation deli"eratel1@#

pro)e >ver1 thorough in


60/80

The ta"le a"ove presents some eamples o( this t1pe o( voca"ular1 in headlines

(rom m1 corpus. As (ar as the use o( this t1pe o( voca"ular1 in su"headlines is concerned#

the1 sometimes occur there too.

0.* Loaded Language in Headlines and Su)headlines

,eadline &riters o(ten# to attract readers# use &ords that carr1 particular strong

positive or negative connotations# language# &hich appeals to their emotions. 't is

a convenient &a1 to in(luence readers opinion. Emotive arguments and loaded language

eploit human &ea%ness to evo%e a strong emotional response (rom the readers. The &ords

used to eplain the situation should "e un"iased and language neutral "ut# as ' have alread1

mentioned Xappealing to emotions is a strong device that a((ects the pu"lic opinion.

'n the ta"le "elo the &ordspaedoand mows downare ver1 strong &ords used to evo%e

negative (eelings in the reader.

#a)le ,0 -oaded !ords in headlines

Date o Headline

*7H*+H)+*+ ,*- 2aedo a"used (iveBmonthBold

+0H+)H)+** ,)/ 2anmo;s do;n Eg1pt protesters

0.4 aming Strategy in Headlines and Su)headlines

The naming techni


61/80

&hether the person re(erred to is a man# a &oman# someone o( a lo& or high social status

etc. ,eadlines are divided in the ta"le according to the re(erential epressions emplo1ed.

Three anal1sed instances dealing &ith other su"Gects than persons &ill not "e considered in

the stud1. As o"served (rom the studied headlines# The Sun never re(ers to people &ith their

(ull names.As little as t&o instances contain partial names# namel1 ,3# &ith the use o(

the (irst name Harry,"elonging to the rince ,arr1# &hich is (urther modi(ied in the

su"headline. ,4 on the contrar1 uses the surname o( the agent and the re(erence is

a nic%name. Su"headline# ho&ever# provides (ull name and surname o( the person. 'n ,-#

an a""reviationP>used re(ers to The Prime >inister# &hich is again provided in (ull in

the su"headline.Another person, $inda %orgroveis in ,*+ named "1 a general term &hich

might suggest less respect "ut as previous cases has (ull name epressed in the su"headline.

Even 5vette ooperin ,5 does not deserve a name and is re(erred to as Xsomeones &i(e

&hich is disrespect(ul and might give the reader the impression o( her "eing in(erior and

&ea%# not an independent individual. The method chosen "1 The Sun to address others

suggests an in(ormal or in(erior relationship "et&een the spea%ers.

'nteresting to note is ,*+# &here the headline is in active voice &ith the agent not

speci(ied# ho&ever# instead o( speci(1ing the agent in the su"headline# the (ocus (rom

the agent in the headline is shi(ted in the su"headline to the patient &hich is then speci(ied

instead. A possi"le eplanation is that the agent in the headline is represented "1 more

persons &hereas the patient is onl1 one and in(ormation a"out this particular person has

more in(ormation value than the in(ormation a"out the agent# there(ore the shi(t and

identi(ication is necessar1. Similar case is ,*0# ho&ever# it does not include an1 name in

the su"headline nor the headline an1ho&. The patient name is omitted (or legal reasons and

the name o( the agent is mentioned (urther in the reading. This headline together &ith other

headlines >,*# ,)# ,0# ,7# ,**# ,*)# ,*-@ are not represented in the ta"le since the1

contain no names o( the people involved and are named "1 general terms onl1.

5*


62/80

'n ,*3 as &ell as in S*3 the "a"1 is re(ered to as a 6aby P. The possi"le

eplanation is that the Cla"el is easier to remem"er (or the readers and the1 "ecame

ac


63/80

!se o( slang is t1pical (or ta"loid language due to the readership the ne&spaper is

(ocused on. As $on"o1 >)++3: )-@ claims the use o( collo


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headlines. ,o&ever# (or a lo1al reader# as the1 tend to occur (re*44*: )+)@ claims that CGournalists use num"ers (or t&o main reasons. 9igures

undergird the o"Gective# empirical claims o( ne&s. =ut the1 simultaneousl1 undermine that

principle# since the1 are chosen to epress and enhance the ne&s value o( the stor1. 'n this

sense# the use o( (igures in ne&spapers contri"utes to the authenticit1 and the credi"ilit1 o(

the events.

There are t&o options ho& to epress num"ers# either "1 &ords or "1 (igures.

The anal1sis o( m1 material demonstrates the tendenc1 to use (igures in headlines and

&ords in su"headlines# ho&ever# the rule is sometimes violated# as e.g. S7 sho&s.

The possi"le eplanation (or this rule is pro"a"l1 also due to space saving reasons.

The ta"le "elo& displa1s the possi"le use o( (igures in headlines and su"headlines.

50


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#a)le *+ E%pression of numbers in !ords and figures in headlines and subheadlines

Date o Headline o Su)headline

+0H*+H)+*+ ,* /=rits dead in eru aircrash

S* ,012holida1ing =rits &ereamong

+7H*+H)+*+ ,/ Sludge Xas "ig as = oilspill

S/ T;O'$ sludge in ,ungar1 hasno& claimed sevenlives

*+H*+H)+*+ ,7 XMiners rescue to start6ednesda1

S7 T,E evacuation o( 33minerstrapped underground

*-H*+H)+*+ ,*) XSe cops victimgroped at station

S*) A 2!L8EA=LE &omanattac%ed "1 a se predator cop&ho allegedl1 rapedfive&omen and indecentl1assaulted t&o more %ept hersilence (or ten1ears

*4H*+H)+*+ ,*- aedo a"usedfiveBmonthBold

S*- A $;MM!8'TN care &or%erhas "een (ound guilt1 o(seuall1 assaulting afiveBmonthBold "a"1

)0H+*H)+** ,*7 ueenJs 41rs or( (or6illJs and ate

S*7 T,E ueen told rince6illiam and ate Middletonthe1 can sta1 out o( thespotlight (or the (irst t!o1earso( their marriage.

)0H+*H)+** ,*4 iller "ug (rom 'ndiahits /55=rits

S*4 A DEADLN ne& super"ugresistant to anti"iotics hasstruc% do&n hundredso( Pritsa(ter spreading here (orm'ndia and a%istan.

)/H+*H)+** ,)* Mum dies as drun%sclog AE

S)* A M!M died a(ter &aitingfivehours in an AEdepartment Cclogged up &ithdrun%s# her hus"and claimedlast night.

+)H+)H)+** ,)5 Ta%ea&a1s (acing678555R(at taR

S)5 ,EALT,Bconsciouscouncillors &ant to slap a678555Q(at taQ onta%ea&a1s B in an e((ort totac%le o"esit1.

+0H+)H)+** ,)7 6h1 are =ritish &omen S)7 ! &omen are more li%el1

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so (atY than men to &eigh over 35st# astud1 sa1s.

'n this chapter ' have concentrated on the leical part o( headlines and su"headlines#

&hich as ' have o"served# is an important language device &hich a((ects the particular tets

to a considera"le etent and there(ore poses a treat# since# language as a po&er(ul

instrument# might "e a"used to manipulate the pu"lic opinion.

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-%-LUSI%S

,eadlines are important part o( ne&spapers articles. The1 are the (irst thing

the reader comes across &hen reading ne&spapers# there(ore to capture hisHher attention

the1 must "e interesting. To achieve this# the1 emplo1 various language devices &hich '

studied in m1 thesis. 9or the purpose o( m1 discourse anal1sis ' used articles (rom

the =ritish ta"loid The Sun. ' created t&o sets o( headlines &ith su"headlines# "oth

collected in di((erent periods so ' could compare the sets to (ind out &hether the1 are

similar or i( not# to &hat etent the1 di((er.

' divided m1 thesis into si chapters. At (irst ' introduced the topic o( language o(

ne&spapers and language devices used. 9urther ' speci(ied &hich devices ' &ould (ocused

on in m1 discourse anal1sis. 'n the net chapter ' introduced the corpus o( the ta"loid

ne&spaper The Sun and the individual topics o( the articles# &hich ' grouped accordingl1.

=oth sets contain three groups &ith (irst t&o topics "eing the same. As (ar as the length o(

these articles is concerned the1 are prett1 similar in their structure since "oth sets contain

most o( the articles spreading into t&o to three pages. Anal1sing the length o( the headlines#

there is a tendenc1 to produced medium to long headlines.

Anal1sis o( the clause structure o( headlines sho&ed the tendenc1 to use simple

clauses# ho&ever# there is a slight di((erence "et&een the sets# seeing that the second set

contains also instances o( comple and compound clauses. As (or the clause structure o(

su"headlines# comple clauses prevail# ho&everK in the (irst set also compound clauses

occur.

6hen ta%ing speech act t1pes into consideration# the anal1sis indicates

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the pre(erence o( statements in headlines. ;ne instance o( command also occurs in "oth sets

and the second set additionall1 contains a


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su"headlines. The possi"le eplanation is the need o( headlines to attract in order to sell.

Man1 o( these &ords are shorter than the usual ones there(ore are pre(erred in headlines due

to saving space.

The aim o( m1 thesis &as to (ind out &hether the headlines and su"headlines o( t&o

studied sets are similar or the1 di((er and i( so# to &hat etent. As the amount o(

the individual headlines and their su"headlines &as limited to (i(teen representatives in

each set# it is rather di((icult to dra& clear conclusions (rom such a small sample. ,o&ever#

' can conclude that the di((erence in "oth sets seems to "e small and the1 "oth seem to

emplo1 similar strategies &hile using language devices.

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!I!LI%('A2H&2rimary sources

Internet sources

#he Sun

$oles# I. >)5 Ian )+**@. Ta"a% Gail s&itch over attac% (ears. The Sun.

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