언론 담화에 나타나는 ‘사회 지도층 인사’에 대한 비판 담화분석적 연구

Abstract

This research aims to show how sahoy citochung insa ‘society-leading personages (SLPs)’ is used in media discourse,reflecting power and ideology relations among the members in a society. This study analyzes the lexical item in media texts in terms of critical discourse analysis (CDA). After presenting a brief overview of CDA, this study examines dictionary definitions of sahoy citochung insa, and how such “neutral and objective” definitions are altered in media discourse. Examination shows that most of the tokens of sahoy citochung insa are used when the power elites are criticized for the violation of noblesse oblige, illegal profit-gaining activities, crimes such as tax evasion and sex scandals. It also shows that the criticism against the SLPs reflects tensions in ideology and power between the wealthy vs. low-income social classes and power elites vs. common citizens. Finally, this research suggests that CDA is a useful tool to characterize media texts by investigating ideologically-oriented words/phrases.