A Critical Discourse Analysis of Naming and Numbering in Gaza War Coverage

Abstract

This paper examines how victims are represented in international news media coverage of the Gaza war, with reference to linguistic features of naming and numbering. The paper is based on ten news stories of CNN and Al Jazeera English about five similar events, which undergo qualitative analysis through Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) incorporating the ideas of Fairclough, Halliday, and van Leeuwen. The results show steady use of numerical representation in both outlets, with victims mostly described in aggregate numbers rather than as individual persons. There is no naming whatsoever in the dataset, which is indicative of a more general tendency towards abstraction in conflict coverage. But differences in framing arise. CNN often uses passive and indirect forms of constructions that background agency and focus on the results. Al Jazeera English, in turn, tends to employ active forms more frequently and include contextual or identity-related information, attributing actions to their actors and placing victims in particular situations. The research claims that the two outlets are similar in structural terms regarding their victim representations, but differences in linguistic decisions determine attitudes towards responsibility and human influence. The research provides a micro-level view of the media discourse and conflict coverage studies, by foregrounding naming over numbering.