A narrative approach to media reporting of the Arab-Israeli conflict 2000–2010
An analytic study
Published online: 26 July 2019
https://doi.org/10.1075/forum.17014.haj
https://doi.org/10.1075/forum.17014.haj
Abstract
Narrative shapes conflict, influencing its outcomes and the parties involved in it. Translations reported by media
lie in the heart of this dynamism as translation plays a crucial role in enabling narratives to cross cultural and linguistic
barriers. This paper adopts a narrative approach to the analysis of media reporting of political discourse communicated during the
Arab-Israeli conflict. The data under analysis is mainly derived from three conflicts: The Second Intifada 2000–2005, Lebanon War
2006 and Gaza War 2008/9. The study suggests that competing narratives have manifested themselves differently in the media
reporting of the discourse. Statements have been framed and events labelled through the translations reported by media in line
with the agenda of politically affiliated media outlets. Using various forms of framing and features of narrativity, conflicting
parties have sought to promote their versions of the narrative on the conflict.
Résumé
Le récit que l’on fait d’un conflit a une incidence sur ce conflit: il influence son issue et ses acteurs. Les
traductions véhiculées par les médias sont au cœur de cette dynamique, car c’est par la traduction que les récits franchissent les
barrières culturelles et linguistiques. Cet article adopte une approche narrative de l’analyse du traitement médiatique du
discours politique tenu pendant le conflit israélo-arabe. Les données analysées proviennent principalement de trois conflits: la
seconde intifada (2000–2005), le conflit israélo-libanais de 2006 et la guerre de Gaza de 2008–2009. Notre étude révèle que des
récits divergents ont émergé dans les médias parce que tous les médias n’ont pas rapporté le discours politique de la même
manière. Les différentes traductions produites ont contribué à présenter certaines déclarations et à qualifier certains événements
de façon à servir les intérêts de médias affiliés à telle ou telle mouvance politique. En présentant le discours politique sous
divers angles et en recourant à différents ressorts de la narrativité, les parties du conflit ont cherché à promouvoir chacune
leur propre version du récit fait du conflit.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Methodology
- 3.Narrative and narrative approach
- 4.Features of narrativity
- 5.Framing narratives and translation
- 6.Conclusions and findings
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Du, Lijuan & Wenliang Chen
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