Power, Language, And Mass Media

There have been plenty of works discussing the pragmatic principles such as the Co-operative Principle, the Politeness Principle, the Role-playing Principle, and the Theory of Relevance. True these principles can explain some discourse phenomena in certain speech contexts, but they seem inadequate when facing endless exceptions. This thesis starts with a brief introduction of these principles, and then points out their defects and inadequacy in discourse analysis. The paper then proceeds to discuss the notion of the relationship between power and discourse proposed by Michel Foucault, who believes there exists no power-free discourse. In the second chapter, the thesis uses examples to show that power, a pervasive factor in society, exerts its force in defining language, in setting the criteria for the status of a language, and in using language in real life. However, one point should be made clear that language does not always takes a passive position. It can also have great effect on power. The third chapter discusses the embodiment ofpower in the language in mass media, such as TV, radio, newspapers and Internet. In fact, the language used in mass media shows a great influence from power, especially from the power of the ruling party. The last part draws a conclusion from the former parts and puts forward an opinion that power has its pervasive influence in every part of our society. Aware of it or not, man, as a social being, hasno choice but to live in the influence of power------the powerwith which subjects exert restriction and interaction on each other in social relation and communication.