"A CORPUS-BASED STUDY OF DISCOURSE MARKERS IN PAKISTANI PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA DURING ELECTION PERIODS AND POLITICAL MANIFESTOS"

Abstract

This study aims to examine the use of discourse markers in Pakistani media texts, focusing specifically on election campaigns and political party manifestos. AntConc software was utilized to analyze a specific corpus of newspaper articles to ascertain the frequency of distinct discourse markers, their positioning within the text, and their functional roles within the reading context. Seven principal categories of speech markers were examined as part of the investigation. The categories included additive, adversative, causal, temporal, elaborative, topic management, and conclusion markers. The study's results demonstrate that additive markers, like "and" and "also," are the most prevalent. This illustrates how political texts frequently employ and bolster their claims. Moreover, antagonistic markers such as "but" and "however" are commonly employed, reflecting the contentious and often contradictory essence of political discourse. Causal markers, like "because," "therefore," and "so," indicate the presentation of justifications and reasons, whereas temporal markers, such as "first," "then," and "finally," facilitate the organization of narratives and arguments. Elaborative markers (e.g., "for example" and "in fact"), subject management markers (e.g., "well" and "now"), and conclusion markers (e.g., "in conclusion" and "overall") are crucial in guiding readers effectively through explanations and summaries, even though their usage is infrequent. Collectively, these discourse indicators illustrate how Pakistani media texts’ structure coherence, persuasion, and ideological positioning throughout electoral seasons. This renders intricate political arguments comprehensible and persuasive to the audience.