Malaysians' voices on operation al-Aqsa: a modality analysis of editorial letters
This study investigates the use of modality in letters to the editorial in Malaysian newspapers following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. The operation, carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, sparked a significant response from Malaysians, who expressed their opinions through these letters, condemn...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2025
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25955/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25955/1/Gema_25_1_4.pdf |
| Summary: | This study investigates the use of modality in letters to the editorial in Malaysian newspapers
following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. The operation, carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023,
sparked a significant response from Malaysians, who expressed their opinions through these
letters, condemning Israel's retaliatory attacks against Hamas. The use of modality in these letters
influences how Malaysians express certainty, obligation, and possibility, shaping their stance and
persuasive impact. However, there is limited research on how modality functions in this context,
making it essential to analyze it through the lens of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). The
study analyzes modality through the lens of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). Its objectives
are twofold: (1) to examine the use of modality in letters to the editor in Malaysian newspapers
and (2) to explore how the modality system is realized in expressing opinions on the conflict 100
days after Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. The study analyzed 42 letters from the editorial columns of
two mainstream Malaysian newspapers, Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia, using Systemic
Functional Linguistics. The findings reveal that the writers employed a total of 324 different modal
expressions to articulate their opinions on the conflict. Additionally, the study indicates that the
use of modality in these letters depends on the propositions of the sentences. Writers use modality
to express judgments and opinions, as well as to persuade readers to take action. They frequently
use modal verbs that convey obligation, such as "perlu" (must), "boleh" (can), "akan" (will),
"dapat" (can), and "mampu" (able to). This study contributes to a deeper understanding of public
sentiment and the linguistic strategies employed in newspaper discourse on geopolitical conflicts. |
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