Author(s)

Tongfei Wang ¹, Ye Yang ¹, Yuanyuan Fu ¹, Li Zhang ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ The School of Foreign Studies, Anhui Xinhua University, Hefei, Anhui, China

Corresponding Author

Li Zhang

ABSTRACT

This study employs Martin’s Appraisal Theory as the theoretical framework, combining it with Positive Discourse Analysis (PDA), to examine the news discourse of the Hangzhou Asian Games in China Daily. Appraisal Theory, developed within systemic functional linguistics, comprises three interrelated subsystems: Attitude, Engagement, and Graduation. Specifically, the Attitude subsystem is further divided into Affect (emotional reactions), Judgment (ethical evaluations), and Appreciation (aesthetic or functional assessments). By focusing on positive Attitude resources in the selected corpus, this research aims to reveal how media discursively construct harmonious interactions and positive social values. Different from Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), which emphasizes power critique and ideological deconstruction, PDA proposed by Martin in 1999 shifts the focus to "good news" discourse that promotes social harmony. This paper argues that through lexical choices in Affect (e.g., "enthusiasm"), Judgment (e.g., "perseverance"), and Appreciation (e.g., "grand"), the news discourse constructs China’s responsible image as a host, highlights the cultural and sports value of the Games, and fosters regional unity. The analysis demonstrates that positive Attitude resources not only enhance reader identification but also reflect China’s commitment to sustainable development and cultural exchanges, thus providing a linguistic model for positive globalization communication.

KEYWORDS

Hangzhou Asian Games; Appraisal Theory; Attitude Resources; Positive Discourse Analysis

CITE THIS PAPER

Tongfei Wang, Ye Yang, Yuanyuan Fu, Li Zhang, Positive Discourse Analysis of News Discourse about Hangzhou Asian Games from the Perspective of Attitude of Appraisal Theory. Media and Communication Research (2025) Vol. 6: 107-112. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/mediacr.2025.060215.

REFERENCES

[1] Huang Huijian, Leng Zhanying, Gu Yueqiu. The Constructive Turn of Discourse Analysis-from Critical Discourse Analysis to Positive Discourse Analysis [J]. Journal of Zhejiang University of Technology (social sciences edition), 2007, 6(01): 1-6. 
[2] Li Juyuan, Li Hongyan. The Latest Development of Comment Analysis and Rethinking on Related Problems [J]. Journal of Shanghai Foreign Studies University, 2014, 37(04): 88-96. 
[3] Yang Linxiu, Zhao Hao. Discourse of OPE: A Review of Domestic Positive Discourse Analysis [J]. Journal of Beijing University of Science and Technology (Social Sciences Edition), 2018, (06): 35-41. 
[4] Hu Zhuanglin. Complementarity between Positive Discourse Analysis and Critical Discourse Analysis [J]. Contemporary Foreign Language Studies, 2012, (07): 3-8+76. 
[5] Zhu Yongsheng. Positive Discourse Analysis: A Backwash and Supplement to Critical Discourse Analysis [J]. English Studies, 2006, (04): 36-42. 
[6] Martin, J. R, White, P. R. R. The Language of Evaluation: Appraisal in English [M]. Foreign Language Education and Research Press, 2000. 
[7] Yan Yujie. Hangzhou Games showcase for the Asian Spirit: China Daily Editorial [N]. 2023. https://cn.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202309/25/WS6510e8b5a310936092f23672.html
[8] Wang Zhenhua, Lu Yang. The Evolution of the Engagement System [J]. Foreign Language Research, 2010, (3): 51-56.
[9] Wang Mengyuan. A Corpus-based Positive Discourse Analysis of the “Beijing Summit of China-Africa Cooperation Forum in 2018” [J]. Journal of Hubei University of Arts and Science, 2019, 40(1): 77-82. 
[10] Zhang Delu. A Study on the Grammatical Patterns of the Engagement System in Appraisal Theory [J]. Journal of Foreign Languages, 2019, (3): 2-10.
[11] Yang Xing. A Comparative Study of Chinese and American Sports News Reports from the Perspective of Appraisal Theory—Taking Chinese and American NBA News Reports as Examples [D]. Zhenjiang: Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, 2014.

Sponsors, Associates, and Links

---

• Journal of Language Testing & Assessment
  
  
• Information and Knowledge Management
  
  
• Military and Armament Science
  
  
• Journal of Human Movement Science
  
  
• Art and Performance Letters
  
  
• Lecture Notes on History
  
  
• Lecture Notes on Language and Literature
  
  
• Philosophy Journal
  
  
• Science of Law Journal
  
  
• Journal of Political Science Research
  
  
• Journal of Sociology and Ethnology
  
  
• Advances in Broadcasting