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Title ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE USE FOR ERASURE: AN ECOLINGUISTIC STUDY OF WILDLIFE TV SHOW ‘MEATEATER’

Author(s) AQSA MALIK

Abstract Anthropomorphism is a technique through which human qualities and emotions are attributed to non-human entities e.g gods, plants or animals. The present study attempts to highlight the usage of anthropomorphic and anthropocentric language and to unveil the hidden phenomenon of Erasure in the wildlife TV show ‘MeatEater’ under the model of Ecolinguistic Discourse Analysis. Moreover, with the help of the theory of Erasure, this research aims to highlight the indifference of man towards nature, ecosystem and wildlife. This indifference is often identifiable in the wildlife documentaries and films where the natural behavior of animals is frequently overlooked. The study identifies and measures the gendered pronouns using ‘AntConc’ and highlights the ‘Anthropocentric’ constructs with the help of textual evidence bringing out the three types of erasure namely, the trace, the mask and the void in the selected sample. The study further elicits the detailed analysis of different forms and levels of erasure explaining how the natural world is presented in a distorted fashion. The findings of the study show the anthropocentric lexical choices of the speaker including the gendered pronouns (He, she) along with the anthropomorphic adjectives and verbs. The present study proposes a workable solution to the identified problem through the concept of ‘Ecosophy’ by suggesting the idea of creating a harmonious relationship between humans and the natural world. It further underscores the significance of the conservation of wildlife for a healthy and prosperous environment with a better future for the silenced and marginalized non-human entities in a man-driven world.

Type Thesis/Dissertation MS

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Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2016-02-22

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