Discursive Construction Of “Citizen”Essay Preview: Discursive Construction Of “Citizen”Report this essayDiscourse is composed of coherent units of sentences, propositions, words and speech acts. The analysis of discourse basicly refers to the analysis of those sentences that become Ð- through frequent use, ideological character or historical significance Ð- the main framework of all the other conversations. In other words, it refers to the systematic analysis of linguistic structures, although the very first studies of discourse analysis could not offer this beyond the sentence level. Why do I prefer to use sentence level refers to the fact that discourse analysis also has links with the wider social environment not just with the linguistic characters. From this kind of perspective one can argue that discourse analysis accepts that Ðthe meaning is not transferred as a thing, but is being created under influence of extralinguistic factors on denotative meanings in course of sending and reception. (Ghiglione et al. 1985: 8 ) (1) . In that sense, linking with sociology, semiotics and other disciplines, its role enlarged by including not only the objective transfer of knowledge using language but also expressing the subjectivity (especially of semiologic processes) of the parties engaged in the conversation process. When it meets with sociology, language also becomes something which is used for the analysis of power relations. As Ducrot points out; “language includes catalogue of all human interrelations, all roles, that the speaker can choose for himself and to impose on addressee. It is not possible to reduce the function of language to the transfer of information”. (Ducrot, 1972) (2).
I would like to draw on discursive construction of the term Ðcitizen or the concept of Ðcitizenship in media by referring mostly to the social aspect of discourse analysis. I believe that discourse is not only related to the interrelated words, speeches that form empty texts waiting for people to fill them in, but rather it is shaped according to the changing circumstances, identities (and also,subjectivities), political choices or more generally according to social environment. The concept of citizenship, in this respect, is changing rapidly especially through the peoples increasing awareness of social changes through the public discourse. At this point, the importance of media should not be disregarded. Through the exposure of Ðprepared contents and meanings of the Ðcitizenship concept by especially the politicians or lets call them Ðauthorities (who should be called Ðauthority, is also something that must be discussed, however) in general; people (receivers/ readers/ audiences) begin to think and evaluate their positions, rights, duties as citizens, inside these established parameters. Even when they try to find solutions to their problems, they begin to look for solutions inside these parameters; in other words, they fall in to the trap of Ðideology.
I will exemplify what I mean by making references to the newspapers usage of the term citizen and also draw some examples from the places that are Ðdedicated or Ðreserved to the people (Ðpublic Ð- halk Ð- ) inside the newspapers. Following those, I would also like to draw on some instances from the Ðletters to the editor type of news which give striking definitions and redefinitions, reevaluations of Ðcitizenship concept and make references to how Ðour relationship with that concept is mentioned through the mediation. Besides, it is also significant to mention what kind of meaning is attached to the people Ð- as being Ðcitizen, Ðpublic, Ðmasses, Ðnation Ð- in different times and different contexts.
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