Eco-Linguistic Analysis of Flood Representations in Selected Print Media: A Case of Climate Change Semiotics

Abstract

This study investigated the socio-linguistic dimensions of flood semiotics and perceptions of climate change within Pakistani print media. The objective of the study was to contribute to a deeper understanding of how floods and climate change are portrayed and perceived in Pakistani media discourse, with implications for enhancing media awareness. The methodology employed was a qualitative approach grounded in eco-linguistic perspectives and guided by a comprehensive theoretical framework of Barthes and Kress and van Leeuwen encompassing semiotics, visual semiotics, rhetoric of image, and eco-linguistics. Analyzing images from Time Magazine depicting floods in Pakistan through semiotic analysis inspired by scholars such as Roland Barthes and Kress and van Leeuwen, the research uncovers social representations, effects of climate change, and linguistic strategies employed in media coverage. The findings revealed themes including devastation, emotional messaging, resilience, realism, and authenticity in the portrayal of Pakistani floods, offering insights into socio-cultural representations and perceptions of climate change. The study's implications extend to recommendations for enhancing media awareness and responsibility, improving journalist training, promoting diverse representation, and encouraging collaboration with environmental experts, advocating for continued research and global collaboration to foster a deeper understanding of climate change communication in the media.