Віта Коновальчук
(Кам’янець-Подільський національний університет імені Івана Огієнка)
Науковий керівник: Г. А. Кришталюк, кандидат філологічних наук.
GENRE-BASED ANALYSIS OF QUANTIFIERS IN NEWS REPORTING
Researchers continue to show interest in the means and methods of influencing the recipient within various types of discourse. This issue becomes particularly relevant when analyzing media discourse, as effectively presenting events in newspaper discourse necessitates the utilization of diverse manipulative techniques. Quantifiers stand out as one such instrument that journalists can employ to compromise the fundamental principles of information quality and honesty in the media. This is done by considering the peculiarities of how numerical data and figures are perceived.
In news categorization, ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ news, with ‘general’ news as an intermediary are distinguished. ‘Hard’ news, urgent in politics and economics, demands immediate publication. ‘Soft’ news, less urgent and often entertaining, includes gossip and human interest stories. ‘General’ news strikes a balance, offering in-depth coverage on community events, local developments, and regional trends. It addresses diverse informational needs with a balanced tone [2].
In the contemporary landscape of news reporting, digital data within textual content serves a pivotal role as markers that not only capture the reader’s attention but also establish a lasting presence in their consciousness. This phenomenon underscores the evolving nature of information consumption, where objects of computation, expressed through quantifiers, assume a prominent position and enjoy preferential perception compared to other elements in news messages.
The digitalization of news content reflects the phenomenon of the «mathematization of the world» reshaping the recipient’s perception of information. The infusion of digital markers contributes to a quantitative lens through which news is not just read but also computed and analyzed, altering the very fabric of information assimilation. Five primary thematic fields have been identified, representing the most frequently marked areas by digital notations in news texts: time notations, measurement units, financial indicators, personal identification, numerical enumeration [1, p. 43].
Quantifiers are extensively employed to represent temporal aspects within news texts. This includes specific dates, durations, deadlines, and chronological sequences. By using quantifiers for time-related information, news articles can provide readers with a clear timeline of events and facilitate a structured understanding of the temporal progression within a narrative. For example, «The positive effects of this started to be felt in both the second half and the final quarter of the year, it said» [3, p. B11].
Quantitative aspects related to measurement find frequent representation through quantifiers in news reporting. This encompasses dimensions, quantities, sizes, and scales. Whether describing the magnitude of an event, the physical dimensions of an object, or the extent of a phenomenon, quantifiers help convey quantitative details, enhancing the clarity of the reported information: «Here in this city hemmed in by the rainforest, the popular sloppy choice is to play on the banks of the Amazon River—in sludge several inches deep» [3, p. A1].
The use of quantifiers is common in denoting monetary values, economic indicators, and financial statistics. This thematic field involves the representation of economic data, such as currency amounts, percentages, and financial metrics. Digital notations in this context contribute to a quantitative representation of economic aspects, providing readers with tangible figures for a more comprehensive understanding of the financial dimensions within news narratives, e.g. «Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg boasted in January that he plans to buy billions of dollars of AI chips from Nvidia this year» [3, p. A2].
The integration of quantifiers in news content often involves representing numerical data associated with individuals. This includes age, population figures, demographic statistics, and other quantifiable aspects related to people. Quantifiers in personal identification contribute to a more precise portrayal of human elements within news stories, allowing for quantitative insights into demographics and social dynamics: «Many older adults such as Gold have the financial flexibility to upsize to a larger retirement home if they want» [3, p. M9].
Quantifiers are often employed for numbering items, lists, or sequences within news articles. This thematic field involves using quantifiers to enhance the organizational structure of information. Whether enumerating key points, listing events in a sequence, or outlining steps in a process, numerical enumeration with quantifiers aids in improving the overall readability and comprehension of news narratives. For example, «In class, his students ask Rasmina the words in Seke for a range of objects and concepts, such as body parts and family relationships, drawn from a set of putatively universal vocabulary items called a Swadesh list» [3, p. A13].
To sum up, the role of quantifiers in different types of news aligns with the specific characteristics and objectives of each genre, contributing to the overall effectiveness and impact of news reporting. In hard news, they add urgency and precision. Soft news, with a more relaxed tone, uses quantifiers to introduce a qualitative dimension to storytelling across these thematic fields, fostering engagement. General news adapts quantifiers to present factual information with authority, maintaining a balanced and approachable tone.
REFERENCES
- Мосієнко О.В. Особливості конструювання подій в англомових текстах новин. Тези доповідей Всеукраїнської наукової конференції пам’яті доктора філологічних наук, професора Д. І. Квеселевича «Сучасний стан і перспективи лінгвістичних досліджень та проблем перекладу». Житомир, 2019. С. 43–46.
- Sam N. Lehman-Wilzig and Michal Seletzky. Hard news, soft news, ‘general’ news: The necessity and utility of an intermediate classification. Journalism. 2017. Vol.11, Issue 1. P. 37–56
- The Wall Street Journal (2024-02-23).