Representation of the relationships between social actors (interpersonal meaning)
Representation of the relationships between social actors (interpersonal meaning)
The attitudes of the institution towards itself and the other social actors referred to in the texts are also marked by way of discursive options. To construct the
Chapter 4. Analysis of editorials of a military magazine, El Soldado (1986–1996)
relationships between the participants and the institution or its attitude with re- spect to the message itself, linguistic resources such as the following are used:
a. the use of modal auxiliaries that express obligation, possibility or expectation For example:
(9) The manifest legislative intention of ‘concluding the transition towards full effect of the Constitutional Order’, will now have to confront the ac- tions of unconstitutionality brought before the Supreme Court of Justice and the agitation of those that proclaim themselves irreconcilable enemies of the national Armed Forces.
(January-February 1987) 20
b. The use of verbs that indicate the speaker’s attitude with respect to the message (seem, believe, feel, desire, etc.). For example:
(10) We hope that these circumstances have not too greatly injured the ‘Na-
tional being’ nor its GOOD SENSE, and that in the next editorial we will
be able to comment that the citizenship’s decision made it possible for the process of pacification, that the Military Family has contributed to greatly and selflessly for the good of the Nation, to continue.
(April) 21
c. The type of clauses that are chosen (statement, question, command, etc.). For example:
(11) This 14th of April we must renew the gratitude, we must return to recog-
nize the example, we must return to honor these men, victims for having the profound convictions that protect all of our people, convictions that they represented when their lives were taken away. (January-April 1996) 22
In the editorials of El Soldado analyzed here, information is presented with certi- tude. The audience is interpolated as an equal professional with the use of the inclusive we or as an equal citizen with the use of the term the people or another
20. “La manifiesta intensión legislativa de ‘concluir la transición hacia la plena vigencia del orden constitucional’, deberá enfrentar ahora las acciones de inconstitucionalidad planteadas ante la Suprema Corte de Justicia y la agitación de quienes se proclaman enemigos irreconciliables de las Fuerzas Armadas nacionales” (enero-febrero 1987).
21. “Esperemos que estas circunstancias no hayan lesionado demasiado el “Ser Nacional” ni su SENSATEZ y que en el próximo editorial podamos comentar, que la decisión de la ciudadanía, hizo posible la continuidad del proceso de pacificación a la que la Familia Militar ha contribuido grande y sacrificadamente para bien de la Nación” (abril 1989).
22. “Este 14 de abril debemos hacer renacer el agradecimiento, debemos volver a reconocer el ejem- plo, debemos volver a honrar a estos hombre víctimas por tener las profundas convicciones que abrig- an a todo nuestro pueblo y que a él representaron cuando les quitaron la vida” (enero-abril 1996).
What We Remember
synonym. The antagonists are positioned as the Other, them, those that do not understand the people or who aim to advance political agendas representing for- eign ideas. The texts justify or legitimize the discrimination or exclusion of the Others through discursive strategies that include (Wodak 1997):
d. the construction of a discourse of difference (a discourse of the us). For example:
(12) in the last bimester, actions coming from different areas of the national life have been noted, actions that converge unfavorably on the military family that constitutes our social mass.
(April-May 1987) 23 (13) Referring to the one who adjusts to his convictions, the ability to maintain
silence is a true virtue, although not difficult to accomplish when the formative base of discipline of our profession imposes it of us.
(May-July 1987) 24
A definition of the group as a family or as a team of professionals is constructed, evoking emotive and intellectual aspects in order to differentiate this group from the rest of the social actors present in the texts.
e. strategies of justification that allow the making of evaluations and assignments of responsibilities and blame. For example:
(14) Thanks to it a chapter has closed in the life of the country, pulled by a his- torical milestone in which Uruguay has taken charge of rejecting the in- tent of Marxist initiative, that aimed to destroy its Armed Forces.
(April 1989) 25 The institution is presented as a victim of discrimination and prejudice and the
contrast between us and them is emphasized.
f. strategies of reference that permit the discrediting of the Other through the exaggeration and relativization of its narratives or discourse.
23. “se ha notado en el ultimo bimestre, acciones provenientes desde distintas áreas del quehacer nacional, que convergen desfavorablemente sobre la familia militar que constituye nuestra masa social” (abril-mayo 1987).
24. “Referido al que se ajusta a sus convicciones, es una verdadera virtud el poder mantenerlo [el silencio], aunque no difícil de lograr cuando la disciplina base formativa de nuestra profesión, así
nos lo impone.” (mayo-julio 1996) 25. “Merced a ello se ha cerrado un capítulo en la vida del País, jalonado por un hito histórico en
el que el Pueblo Oriental, se ha encargado de rechazar el intento de iniciativa marxista, que pre- tendió destruir sus FF.AA.” (abril 1989).
Chapter 4. Analysis of editorials of a military magazine, El Soldado (1986–1996)
For example: (15) because in addition to making affirmations and accusations about un-
proved events, it [the attack against the Armed Forces] is extended to the family members
(April-May 1987) 26
(16) In effect, our Armed Forces, victorious in the struggle against the unpat-
riotic forces of the Marxist subversion were accused of supposed viola- tions of Human Rights.
(April 1989) 27