Comparative study of tenor on news texts on greenpeace and japan times related to the fukushima nuclear crisis: a systemic functional linguistics approach

Oleh :
Anggun Dwi Wulan S.P. - C0309007 - Fak. Sastra dan Seni Rupa

This research belongs to a qualitative research applying descriptive comparative method. This research compared the tenor of news texts in the Greenpeace and Japan Times related to the Fukushima nuclear crisis using Systemic Functional Linguistics approach. It aims to find out the three elements of tenor: status, affect, and contact. It is also intended to explore the ideology of each text then find out the similarities and differences of both texts. The data were lexicogrammar, genre, and text structure. The sources of data were the news texts about Fukushima nuclear crisis published by Greenpeace in www.greenpeace.org on February 19, 2013 and Japan Times in www.japantimes.co.j in August 3, 2012. The total sampling technique was applied in this research because the researcher took and analyzed all the clauses in the both texts. The content analysis technique: domain analysis, taxonomy analysis, componential analysis, and finding cultural value were applied in analyzing the data to define the elements of tenor: status, affect, contact and the ideology of each text and find out the similarities and differences. Based on the data analysis, it can be concluded that both texts applied different status. Greenpeace applied unequal status. The writer applied higher position than the readers. Japan Times, on the other hand, applied equal status between the writer, the readers, and the informants. Both texts also have different ways in judging the issue. Greenpeace judged the issue negatively by blaming the government and nuclear industry for the nuclear disaster. Japan times judge the issue in more neutral ways, although all of the informants give negative judgment toward the issue. Based on the familiarity and the readability of the language, both texts are understandable for their target readers. Based on the degree of involvement, the Greenpeace writer intended to involve himself in the text, while the Japan Times writer did not. The ideologies between the texts are different. Greenpeace applied leftantagonist, while Japan Times applied left-protagonist ideology. The ideology influences the linguistic choice in the text.