Linguistic Sustainability and Politeness Strategies In Chinese and Russian Reports on Ebrahim Raisi’s Death
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31185/eduj.Vol60.Iss3.5722Keywords:
Linguistic Sustainability, Pragmatics, politeness principlesAbstract
Language scholars contend that without language, progress cannot occur. In other words, language is essential for achieving sustainable development across all sectors. This study examines how courteous, respectful discourse can foster enduring communication by avoiding negative or unintended expressions, specifically in relation to the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. To pursue this inquiry, articles were carefully chosen from two reputable sources—China Daily and The Moscow Times—following an extensive process of research and screening. In addition, a wide-ranging review of literature in pragmatics, politeness theory, and presuppositional theory was conducted. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research applies Leech's (1983) and Yule's (1996) frameworks to analyse four selected text extracts. The findings reveal that both newspapers adopted language characterized by respect, cooperation, and a non-confrontational tone when reporting on Raisi’s death, while also emphasizing the political and economic ties between Iran, China, and Russia—thus contributing to sustainable communication practices. Theoretically, this work enriches our understanding of the linguistic dimensions of sustainability and offers practical insights into the use of types of presupposition and politeness strategies. Based on these insights, the study recommends that political leaders and journalists consistently employ polite and diplomatic language when discussing global events, thereby nurturing ongoing dialogue and promoting peace.
Keywords: Keywords: Linguistic Sustainability, Pragmatics, politeness principles
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