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CHAPTER IV FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
This chapter is divided into two main parts: the data findings and the discussion of the data analysis. The first part consists of the findings of three
formulations of the research: the topics which are emphasized in Haller ’s
utterances during direct and cross examination in the courtroom trial, the discursive strategies which are employed in the realization of the strategies of
positive self-representation and negative other-representation, and the ideological purpose which underlies its discursive representation and how it
shatters claims of the prosecutor. The second part consists of the discussion on those all findings.
A. Findings
1. Semantic Macrostructure or Topics which are Emphasized in
Criminal Defense Lawyer ’s Utterances during the Courtroom Trial
A topic represents the gist or the most important information of a discourse. It tells us what a discourse is about. To examine the topics, the
researcher looks up critically on what is topicalized and de-topicalized in Ha
ller’s utterances. In this study, the topicalization is done by emphasizing self-good things and de-emphasizing bad thing in self-representation and vice
versa in the other-representation. The utterances of Haller as a criminal defense lawyer in this novel creates a certain global meaning which draws
positive self-representation and negative other-representation in each cross and direct examination of courtroom discourse.
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2. The Discursive Strategies Employed by Haller in the Realization of
the Strategies of Positive Self-Representation and Negative Other- Representation
The study shows that the defense lawyer character Haller uses linguistic elements such as semantics, syntax, stylistics, and rhetoric. They are used as
discursive strategies in order to shatter previous claims served by the prosecutor and to win the lawsuit. By using those elements, Haller draws the same event of
the case in different ways. This is done by serving only the information which is beneficial for the communicator. On the contrary, the information which is
harmful is concealed. The main purpose is that the judge and juries are only given the information which is beneficial for the communicators.
Moreover, the researcher finds that the defense lawyer character in this novel applies mostly lexicon element in defending his client. On the other
hand, he hardly applies disclaimer element and he does not apply metaphorsimile element as a discursive strategy to legitimate his claim. The
following table is the percentages of the use of those linguistic elements employed by Haller as the discursive strategies.
Table 2. The Discursive Strategies Used by Haller as the Criminal Defense Lawyer in
The Lincoln Lawyer Novel No.
Strategies Frequency Percentage
1. Lexicon
18 33.33
2. Coherence
6 11.11
3. Disclaimer
1 1.85
4. Presupposition
8 14.81
5. Metaphor Simile
6. Rhetorical Question
12 22.22
7. Expression
2 3.70
8. Syntax
7 12.96
Total 54
100
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3. The Ideological Purpose which Underlies the Discourse Production
The analysis of various topics and discursive strategies reveals the ideology of exclusion. This ideology underlies the discourse production of the
defense lawyer Haller because he intends to influence the judge to put the victim, the
prosecutor’s witness and the prosecutor on blacklist from the trial in this case. This is done by attaching negative attributes to them such as a
liar, the real predator, and cunning person. A closer examination of the topics and discursive strategies indicate that
the words and sentences chosen are consistently used to denote a concept which serves an ideological purpose of blacklisting the adversary. Haller
depicts the victim, prosecutor ’s witnesses, police and the prosecutor as the
party who conducted skulduggery during the judicial process. By this reason, they need to be blacklisted or excluded from the trial.
B. Discussion
1. Semantic macrostructure or Topics which are emphasized in Haller’s
utterances during the courtroom trial.
This step is concerned with a careful examination on the utterances of the main character. The examination aims to identify the topics, or macro
structures. It defines the speaker’s intention as the most important information
or opinions. It deals with the representation of self and other. Therefore, the focus of analysis is on what is presented as the most salient in his utterances
during direct and cross examination. It is done in order to reveal the topic
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