Engagement Markers in Pakistani English Newspaper Editorials: A Corpus-Based Study

How Pakistani Newspapers Use Engagement Markers to Connect with Readers

When we pick up a newspaper, we do not usually stop to think about the subtle ways editors connect with us through language. Yet, behind every editorial lies a set of linguistic strategies designed to draw readers in, make them feel included, and guide their interpretation of the news. These strategies are called engagement markers (EM)—a subcategory of what linguists call metadiscourse.

A recent study examined how four major English newspapers in Pakistan—Dawn News (DN), The News (TN), The Frontier (TF), and The Express Tribune (TET)—use these engagement markers in their editorials. What makes this research unique is that it not only measured how often these markers appeared but also proposed a new model for classifying them, filling gaps in previous theories.

What Exactly Are Engagement Markers?

Engagement markers are linguistic signals that bring the reader into the conversation. They can appear in several forms, such as:

• Inclusive expressions (e.g., we, our)

• Personalization (direct references to you)

• Reader-address questions (posing questions to the audience)

• Asides (brief digressions aimed at the reader)

• Anecdotes and sayings (relatable mini-stories or proverbs)

Together, these elements transform editorials from being just informative to being reader-friendly and engaging.

The Study: A Corpus of 1,000 Editorials

To investigate, researchers built a corpus of 1,000 editorials, taking 250 from each newspaper. To avoid long-term shifts in editorial style, they narrowed the focus to a specific period—March and April 2016. This gave them a snapshot of how Pakistani English newspaper editorials (PENE) engaged with readers during that time.

The analysis combined both quantitative and qualitative approaches. On the one hand, researchers counted how often different engagement markers appeared. On the other, they examined the functions these markers served, identifying overlaps, fuzzy boundaries, and ways previous models fell short.

The Findings: Which Newspaper Engages Most?

Interestingly, the results showed that The Frontier (TF) relied on engagement markers far more heavily than its competitors. Compared to Dawn, The News, and The Express Tribune, TF’s editorials came across as more reader-friendly, conversational, and interactive.

This suggests that some newspapers consciously shape their writing to establish a stronger connection with their audience, while others maintain a more distant, formal style.

Why Does This Matter?

The study contributes to the ongoing debate in linguistics about how we distinguish between propositional (factual) and non-propositional (reader-oriented) content. Engagement markers sit right at this boundary, often blurring the lines. By clarifying these categories, the research not only helps linguists but also offers insights for journalists, editors, and even educators who want to understand how language shapes reader engagement.

The Big Questions Explored

The study set out to answer three key questions:

1. How frequently do metadiscourse markers appear in Pakistani English newspaper editorials?

2. What functions do these markers serve?

3. What similarities and differences exist among the four national newspapers in their use of engagement markers?

By proposing a fresh classification model and providing detailed comparisons, the study opens new doors for research on media language in Pakistan.

You can read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.46377/dilemas.v27i1.1553

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Posted by 

Dr. Ali Raza Siddique

PhD Applied Linguistics
Department of Applied Linguistics
Government College University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

Hedges as Metadiscourse in Pakistani English Newspaper Editorials: A Corpus-Based Study

 

When reading a newspaper editorial, you may notice writers often use cautious words like perhaps, might, likely, or it seems. These are called hedges—linguistic devices that soften claims, show uncertainty, or leave space for alternative views. Unlike boosters, which make arguments sound strong and certain, hedges make them sound careful and balanced.

A study by Siddique, Mahmood, Qasim, and Azher (2018) examined 1,000 editorials from four leading Pakistani English newspapers—Dawn, The Frontier, The Express Tribune, and The News. The goal was to see how hedges function as part of metadiscourse, the language writers use to interact with readers and manage persuasion.

The researchers proposed a framework of hedges that includes:

• Modal verbs and adverbs (may, might, perhaps)

• Tentative expressions (it seems, it is possible)

• Lexical hedges (likely, apparently, probably)

The findings showed that Dawn used the highest number of hedges, presenting itself as cautious and moderate in tone. The Frontier and The News followed, while The Express Tribune showed fewer instances.

Why does this matter? Hedges reveal how newspapers balance persuasion with caution, showing readers that opinions are being offered without overclaiming certainty. This strategy allows editorials to sound credible, thoughtful, and open to interpretation.

The study concludes that hedges play a vital role in shaping the persuasive style of Pakistani English newspaper editorials, reflecting not only linguistic choices but also journalistic values of balance and credibility.

Keywords: Hedges in Pakistani editorials, Metadiscourse in newspapers, Persuasive language in media, Pakistani English newspapers, Cautious language in writing

You can read the full article here. Read PDF: Download

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Posted by

Dr. Ali Raza Siddique

PhD Applied Linguistics
Department of Applied Linguistics
Government College University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

Boosters as Metadiscourse in Pakistani English Newspaper Editorials: A Corpus Based Study

 

When we read newspaper editorials, certain words and phrases make arguments sound more convincing—like clearly, undoubtedly, must, or according to experts. These are called boosters, linguistic tools that emphasize certainty and strengthen persuasion.

A recent study by Siddique, Mahmood, Qasim, and Azher (2018) explored how Pakistani English newspaper editorials (PENE) use boosters as part of metadiscourse, the language writers use to interact with readers. The researchers built a corpus of 1,000 editorials from four leading newspapers—Dawn, The Frontier, The Express Tribune, and The News—to track how often and in what ways boosters appeared.

To analyze this, they proposed a new model of boosters, categorizing them into:

• Expressions of certainty (e.g., clearly, must, undoubtedly)

• Repetition (using synonyms to stress a point, like strong and well-positioned)

• Attribution (boosting credibility by citing sources, e.g., According to US officials)

The findings were fascinating: The Frontier used the highest number of boosters, making its editorials more persuasive and assertive compared to the others. Dawn followed, while The Express Tribune and The News showed fewer instances.

Why does this matter? Boosters reveal how newspapers shape public opinion, not just by presenting facts but by framing them with certainty and authority. For Pakistani readers, this shows how editorial language works subtly to influence perspectives on politics, society, and global issues.

The study concludes that a greater use of boosters strengthens the persuasive power of writing. It also provides a foundation for future researchers to look deeper into how language constructs influence, especially in media and academic discourse.

Keywords: Boosters in Pakistani editorials, Metadiscourse in newspapers, Persuasive language in media, Pakistani English newspapers, Certainty markers in writing

You can read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.26655/MJLTM.2018.3.1

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Dr. Ali Raza Siddique

PhD Applied Linguistics
Department of Applied Linguistics
Government College University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

Metadiscourse in Pakistani English Newspaper Editorials: Insights from My Research

I am delighted to share one of my published research contributions titled “Metadiscourse Analysis of Pakistani English Newspaper Editorials: A Corpus-Based Study” (International Journal of English Linguistics, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2018)

Description

This study explores how Pakistani English newspaper editorials use metadiscourse markers—the linguistic devices that help writers organize their ideas, engage readers, and express stance. In simple terms, metadiscourse reveals how writers guide readers through the text and make their arguments more persuasive.

For this research, I compiled a corpus of 1,000 editorials from four leading newspapers: Dawn News, The Frontier, The Express Tribune, and The News. By analyzing these texts with a newly proposed model of interpersonal metadiscourse, I examined both interactive markers (such as transitions, sequencing, and evidentials) and interactional markers (such as hedges, boosters, and engagement markers).

The findings were fascinating:

• Across all newspapers, interactive markers were used more frequently than interactional ones, showing that editorialists prioritize guiding readers through arguments.

• The Frontier stood out as particularly reader-friendly, making greater use of sequencing and transition markers, as well as engagement devices.

• Hedges (expressing uncertainty) and engagement markers (involving the reader directly) were especially common in these texts, reflecting strategies to persuade while maintaining balance.

This research not only highlights stylistic differences among major newspapers but also emphasizes how language choices shape reader engagement in media discourse.

You can read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.5539/ijel.v8n1p146

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Posted by 

Dr. Ali Raza Siddique

PhD Applied Linguistics
Department of Applied Linguistics
Government College University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.