Presentation of one’s view in Japanese newspaper columns: Commentary strategies and sequencing

An analysis of an opinion column in the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shinbun, Jun-Apr 1994. The way the writer presents his or her view as it relates to the column's central message is examined given the concepts of commentary strategy. Discourse items focused on include (1) location of the headlin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Text & talk 1996, Vol.16 (3), p.391-422
Main Author: MAYNARD, SENKO K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Discourse analysis
Discourse semiotics
Japan
Linguistics
Media
Press
Rhetoric
Stylistics. Symbolism. Poetics
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Summary:An analysis of an opinion column in the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shinbun, Jun-Apr 1994. The way the writer presents his or her view as it relates to the column's central message is examined given the concepts of commentary strategy. Discourse items focused on include (1) location of the headline paraphrase, ie, where the central message reflecting the writer's view &/or opinion appears within the column; (2) characteristics of column-initial paragraphs; (3) overall sequencing of commentary sentences, & (4) sequencing of commentary sentences within each paragraph. The preferred rhetorical style in Japanese newspaper texts places commentary sentences toward the conclusion in multiple levels of discourse. It is argued that such preference is enhanced, in part, by inclination toward the topic-comment information structure & an array of grammatical phenomena critically functional in the Japanese language. 2 Tables, 2 Figures, 32 References. Adapted from the source document
ISSN:0165-4888
1860-7330
1613-4117
1860-7349
DOI:10.1515/text.1.1996.16.3.391