A CORPUS-ANALYSIS OF META-DISCOURSE MARKERSIN POLITICAL BLOGS OF PAKISTANI NEWSPAPERS

Abstract

The study investigatesthe use of meta-discourse markers in political blogs. Specifically, it examinesthe frequency and distribution of interactive meta-discourse markers to express writer stance and engage readers, and comparesthe relative prominence of interactive and interactional meta-discourse markers within the selected blogs.The study adopts a corpus-based mixed-methoddesignto investigate the use of meta-discourse markers in political blogs. The data sample for the studyconsists of twelve(12) political blogs published in The Express Tribune and The Newsof Pakistani English newspapers.The paperemploysHyland's (2005) interpersonal model of meta discourse asthe guiding frameworkto examine organisationaldiscourse, stance expression, and reader engagement among bloggers. It was foundthat interactive markers are more frequent, including transitions, frame markers, code glosses, and endophoric markers, and therefore emphasise their importance in argument structuring and directing the reader in the process of understanding political talks. Interactional markers such as hedges, boosters, attitude markers, self-mentions, and engagement markers are also popular in bloggers' attempts to express evaluation, persuasion, and interpersonal involvement. The comparison shows stylistic differences in the newspaper blogs, with the News blogs employing more regularly than the Express Tribune. The paper concludes that for successful political blogging combination of textual structuring and interpersonal interactionis necessary, offering essential insights into discourse practices in Pakistani English print media.