Page 1 of 34
Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 8
Publication Date: August 25, 2021
DOI:10.14738/assrj.88.10412. Rahaman, S. (2021). Exploring Sociopolitical and Religious Meanings from a BBC News on a Terror Attack: A Functional Linguistic
Analysis. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(8). 644-677.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Exploring Sociopolitical and Religious Meanings from a BBC News
on a Terror Attack: A Functional Linguistic Analysis
Sohanur Rahaman
5th Semester Student of English Studies
School of Arts and Social Sciences
Department of English Language and Literature
University of Creative Technology Chittagong, Bangladesh
ABSTRACT
This study is a functional grammatical analysis of BBC news on a New York attack
where eight were killed by a man driving a truck by the application of Halliday’s
Systematic Functional Grammar (SFG). By analysing the systems of grammar at the
clause level, I show that the text at the discourse level makes different meaning
across the news. Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant who came to the US in 2010, has
developed negative actions such as killing eight people, hurting 11, aiming at
innocents, striking cyclists, hitting a school bus, injuring adults and children, and in
all of his actions eventually “the innocent” are affected as a goal. Another significant
goal i.e. “note” was found which shows his cohesion with the so-called Islamic States.
Nevertheless, they are using the name of “Islam” but they don’t know or they don’t
follow the script of Islam or at least the basics of Islam, it proven by the killer are all
actions because according to The Holy Quran” killing a single innocent is even
strongly prohibited in Islam, it is like killing the whole humanity. Identifying and
attributing processes have identified here “The attack” as a “terrible” incident
which is done by the attacker and attributing processes ascribe “bad qualities” of
carriers (the attacker). The Killer is the highest number of “Actor” in terms of the
transitivity process, which means he is in a “destructive power”. The police are the
second-highest “actor” who performs some physical actions such as shooting the
driver, arresting the driver, taking the attacker to hospital. The situation was going
to get ugly by the killer’s actions and for this reason; the police accomplish these
professional actions to make meaning of “safety of innocent”. The killer is a “single”
person but his negative actions convulsed the whole city even whole country, and
all big names like President, City mayor, police commissioner immediately were
made get involved into “verbal actions” interfering, and reacting, saying,
commenting etc. Thus the study frets out some significant meaning through
grammar choices in the news genre in question.
Keywords: Terror attack, SFG, news analysis, transitivity, modality
INTRODUCTION
In this study, Halliday’s (1995) systematic functional grammar (SFG) has been used as the tool
for analysis and theoretical basis. Now, Terrorism is a global problem. Terrifying others is an
“inhuman” act; it is hated and disapproved socially, politically and religiously. Interestingly, all
religions on earth prohibit “terrorism”.
Page 2 of 34
645
Rahaman, S. (2021). Exploring Sociopolitical and Religious Meanings from a BBC News on a Terror Attack: A Functional Linguistic Analysis. Advances
in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(8). 644-677.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.88.10412
Significantly, we should know the Political game of terrorism; not only terrorists but also power
holders of this world have shown their hypocrisies and inhuman behaviours during different
times. They are simply killing millions of people and they are calling it a war. There is a book
written “The Management of Savagery” which frets out terrorist organizations a re created by
the world’s big leaders for some cheap political games. (Blumenthal, M. 2019)
Additionally, Religious motivation behind terrorism is one of the biggest misunderstood
concepts in this present world, terrorists are targeting Islam or Muslim community nowadays,
it doesn’t mean that the people of other religions or communities are safe, it can be work like a
chain reaction which may be exposed in very future and where every innocent will be affected.
Their minds are full of negativities; they simply try to manipulate people from the right path.
Meaning of terror attacks is something about surprise attack related to violence against
innocents to attaining political or other aims.
People around the world suffering from mental trauma because of terrorists, randomly walking
on the streets is not even safe enough, bombing, mass killing are the common news headlines
nowadays. A lot of people around the world virtually understand that a terrorist means a
Muslim, Terror attack has brought identity to communities especially Muslims, sometimes
media presents all the things against Muslims. ISIS, Al Qaeda and other terrorist organization
using the name of Islam as worst as possible, but situations are changing day by day, now people
are trying to realize that not only Muslims but also people of other communities are going to be
chocked by terrorism or world politics, everybody y is a victim here.
This paper was indeed inspired by the meaning-making in the language used in an international
media news i.e. BBC. The meanings are explored by the application of Halliday’s Functional
Linguistic tools.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Terrorism
The word terrorism is basically complex and controversial for its meaning and ferocious impact
in this planet.
As per S. L., chief of FBI terrorism section (1987) the definition of terrorism is “The unlawful
use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a Government, the
civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”
The main motive of terrorism is trying to spread terror intentionally among general people. It
has been practiced by political organizations and seeks to create fear; it targets a wide audience
and strikes on their ordered life. Terrorists play with innocent lives and their principal means
of victory is strength of arms. Thus the calculated use of violence is to generate fear, and thereby
to achieve political goals, when they know direct military victory is not possible.
In order to draw attention and maintain the fear, terrorists engage in dramatic, violent, and
high-profile attacks such as hijackings, hostage takings, kidnappings, mass shootings, car
bombings, and, frequent suicide bombings.
Page 3 of 34
646
Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 8, Issue 8, August-2021
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
G,(2014) says typologies of Terrorism are divided into five: the new terrorism, state terrorism,
dissident terrorism, religious terrorism, ideological terrorism, and international terrorism.
Sub-classifications of accepted typologies include nationalist terrorism, ethno-national
terrorism, and racial terrorism.
Terrorism and Islam
Terrorism is never an Islamic phenomenon. Killing children and innocent people were never a
part of Islam. Terrorism has nothing to do with Islam. Beyond that, the Holy Quran in no way
justifies murder; it unequivocally states, "Whosoever killed a person ... it shall be as if he had
killed all mankind" (5:32). Terrorists are one of the most dangerous threats for humanity,
human should know the difference that It is a war against evil not against Islam, otherwise
Islamophobia can cause a huge discrimination around the glove. Leader such as Bush,
(November 20,2000) said
"Ours is a war not against a religion, not against the Muslim faith. But ours is a war
against individuals who absolutely hate what America stands for, and hate the
freedom of the Czech Republic. And therefore, we must work together to defend
ourselves. And by remaining strong and united and tough, we'll prevail."
Terror attacks carried out by non-Muslims get less coverage compared to those by Muslims,
said a report by the University of Alabama. Betus,& Lemi. (2019) says in the study titled “Why
Do Some Terrorist Attacks Receive More Media Attention Than Others?” showed that of the 136
terrorist acts that occurred between 2006 and 2015 in the US, “Muslims” were linked to only
12.5 percent of them but received more than half of the news coverage.
Professor Gitiara Nasreen, teacher of Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at
Dhaka University, said the whole Muslim community is blamed when a Muslim is involved in
any terrorist attack, but in terms of non-Muslims, the media is focused on the individual only.
“The recent Christchurch attack was an exception where the New Zealand government was quick
to say that the massacre of nearly 50 Muslims in two mosques was an act of terror.
However, the assailant's face was blurred and the media has been cautious in releasing details
of the attacker.
Generally, when a Muslim is the perpetrator of an attack, his race, origins, and religion make
immediate headlines. In the New Zealand case, Brenton Tarrant has not been referred to as a
“white terrorist” or a “Christian terrorist”, even though his detailed 74-page manifesto has clear
racial and religious references Writer and Anthropologist Rahnuma Ahmed said since 9/11,
Islam has been equated with terror and terror attacks in the Western media.
“Since then, Western ruling elites have crafted and stoked Islamophobia in their own countries
to manufacture domestic consent for their imperial wars of aggression in Afghanistan, Iraq,
Libya, Syria, Yemen, which benefits the oil, and arms manufacturing industry.
Everybody should know that a political movement of any Muslim or Muslim leader is no Islam.
“Jihad” is one of the ideologies of Islam and this is most commonly misinterpreted one, Actually,
linguistic analysis point out that the etymology of the word jihad (jahada) means “to strive,”
does not mean “holy war,” military related meaning is not necessary.