Evaluating the discourse of war in the press media: A lexicogrammatical examination of the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia from the perspective of appraisal theory

This dissertation is concerned with how writers use language during a time of war to pass value judgments, evaluate a situation, a thing, or a person and show support for, or disassociate themselves from, attributed sources through the lexicogrammatical resources available in language. This dissertation is an examination of how writers use language to evaluate or appraise; it is also an examination of the power of discourse during a time of war, and how that power can be used to create solidarity with a reader by presenting information in a strategic and value-laden way.

Based on Appraisal Theory, which examines language from the perspectives of the systems of ATTITUDE, ENGAGEMENT and GRADUATION, this dissertation is an examination of nine articles taken the New York Times, National Post and Guardian Unlimited during the 1999 NATO led bombing of Serbia. The research attempts to show that the same topic can be and is represented differently depending on the writer and the institution which that writer represents. It also attempts to reflect the notion that during a time of war the media does not report objectively, rather, it does so subjectively with the maintenance of specific ideological goals in mind.