The term "ecolinguistics" gained prominence through the works of Michael Halliday, who in the 1990s underscored the necessity of applying linguistic analysis to environmental issues (Halliday, 1990). The field further evolved with contributions from scholars like Arran Stibbe, who emphasized the integration of ecological philosophy into linguistic analysis (Stibbe, 2015). The interdisciplinary nature of ecolinguistics has also been enriched by the works of researchers like Peter Mühlhäusler, who explored linguistic diversity's role in ecological understanding (Mühlhäusler, 1995). Naess's ecosophy, often summarized by the phrase "Self-realization for all beings". This approach challenges anthropocentric views and calls for a radical restructuring of human societies based on principles of diversity, ecological compatibility, and decentralization (Naess & Rothenberg, 1989). Anthropocentrism is a philosophy that emphasizes humankind as the central or most important element. Ecocentrism emphasizes the intrinsic value of all living things, including humans but also animals, plants, water, soil, etc. Norton and Hulme's (2019) analysis of climate change narratives in UK media indicates various stories that drive public discourse on climate change. The analysis emphasizes the diversity of climate change perspectives, as well as the shift in editorial focus toward a consensus on the need for technological solutions and adaptation measures, revealing the complex interplay between language, ideology, and environmental discourses. Ecolinguistic analysis has been applied to various discourses, including animals (Glenn, 2004; Goatly, 2006; Stibbe, 2012a), advertising (Hogben, 2008; Slater, 2007), the concept of ‘nature’ (Hansen, 2006; Knight, 2010), natural resources (Kurz, Donaghue, & Rapley, 2005; Meisner, 2007), economics (Halliday, 2001; Stibbe, 2005), ecotourism (Milstein, 2008, 2011), environmentalism (Alexander, 2010; Benton & Short, 1999; Harre´, Brockmeier, & Muhlhausler, 1999), climate change (Doulton & Brown, 2009; Ihlen, 2009), energy (Russell et al., 2011), and sustainability (Kowalski, 2013). Ecolinguistic studies differ in complexity, scope, depth of investigation, and purpose.

1. Role of Media in Present Day Ecology: A Corpus-Based
Ecolinguistic Analysis
Muhammad Saleem

2. Contents
• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Methodology
• Analysis
• Conclusion
• References

3. Introduction
The term "ecolinguistics" gained prominence through the works of
Michael Halliday, who in the 1990s underscored the necessity of applying
linguistic analysis to environmental issues (Halliday, 1990). The field
further evolved with contributions from scholars like Arran Stibbe, who
emphasized the integration of ecological philosophy into linguistic
analysis (Stibbe, 2015). The interdisciplinary nature of ecolinguistics has
also been enriched by the works of researchers like Peter Mühlhäusler,
who explored linguistic diversity's role in ecological understanding
(Mühlhäusler, 1995).

4. Introduction
Ecolinguistics investigates the complex relationship between language and
the environment, focusing on how linguistic practices influence ecological
thought and action. This interdisciplinary field merges insights from linguistics,
ecology, and environmental studies to explore the role of language in shaping
environmental awareness and behaviors. Ecolinguistics is concerned with the
analysis of language and its power to construct narratives about nature and
our interactions with the environment (Stibbe, 2015; Halliday, 1990). This
involves examining metaphors, discourses, and narratives that facilitate or hinder
ecological understanding and sustainability (Goatly, 1996).

5. Introduction
Naess's ecosophy, often summarized by the phrase
"Self-realization for all beings". This approach
challenges anthropocentric views and calls for a
radical restructuring of human societies based on
principles of diversity, ecological compatibility,
and decentralization (Naess & Rothenberg, 1989).

6. Introduction
The linguistic analysis of weather reports from international news
channels can reveal significant patterns in the representation of
climate change and environmental issues, showing how specific lexical
choices and narrative structures can influence public perception and
discourse around climate phenomena. Such studies are pivotal in
understanding the role of language in shaping societal responses to
environmental challenges, highlighting the potential for more effective
communication strategies to foster a deeper public engagement with
climate change issues.

7. Introduction
• Anthropocentrism is a philosophy that
emphasizes humankind as the central or most
important element.
• Ecocentrism emphasizes the intrinsic value of
all living things, including humans but also
animals, plants, water, soil, etc.

8. Research Objective
• To illustrate the role of media in the
portrayal of climate by identifying the
linguistic elements of weather reports
from the ecolinguistic perspective.

9. Literature Review
Norton and Hulme's (2019) analysis of climate change narratives
in UK media indicates various stories that drive public discourse
on climate change. The analysis emphasizes the diversity of climate
change perspectives, as well as the shift in editorial focus toward a
consensus on the need for technological solutions and adaptation
measures, revealing the complex interplay between language,
ideology, and environmental discourses.

10. Literature Review
Nerlich, Koteyko, and Brown (2010) look at the challenge of
communicating climate change problems to the public and
lawmakers. They challenge the traditional deficit model of scientific
communication, advocating for more nuanced and participatory modes
of engagement that consider the emotional, cultural, and contextual
factors that impact public involvement in climate change. Their work
emphasizes the need of understanding public opinions and attitudes
about climate change to build effective communication techniques.

11. Literature Review
Damico, Baildon, and Panos (2020) propose adopting
ecolinguistics to increase climate justice literacy in schools. The
authors present a series of strategies for educators to critically engage
students with ecological narratives, creating a greater understanding
of the relationship between humans and the environment while also
contributing to a more ecologically sustainable and equitable society.

12. Literature Review
Wang, Zhai, and Zhao (2019) conduct a novel ecolinguistic
analysis of the UN Secretary-General's words on climate
change. Using the ecolinguistics paradigm, the study seeks to
analyze the linguistic tactics used in climate change discourse,
with an emphasis on how language reflects and alters our
knowledge of environmental problems.

13. Literature Review
Zahoor and Janjua (2020) continue their examination of
ecological themes in educational materials, critiquing the
anthropocentric viewpoint prevalent in Pakistani English
textbooks. They urge for changes to incorporate
ecopedagogical knowledge that improves environmental
consciousness in children.

14. Ecolinguistic Analysis
Ecolinguistic analysis has been applied to various discourses, including
animals (Glenn, 2004; Goatly, 2006; Stibbe, 2012a), advertising (Hogben,
2008; Slater, 2007), the concept of ‘nature’ (Hansen, 2006; Knight, 2010),
natural resources (Kurz, Donaghue, & Rapley, 2005; Meisner, 2007),
economics (Halliday, 2001; Stibbe, 2005), ecotourism (Milstein, 2008, 2011),
environmentalism (Alexander, 2010; Benton & Short, 1999; Harre´,
Brockmeier, & Muhlhausler, 1999), climate change (Doulton & Brown, 2009;
Ihlen, 2009), energy (Russell et al., 2011), and sustainability (Kowalski, 2013).
Ecolinguistic studies differ in complexity, scope, depth of investigation, and
purpose.

15. Methodology
• The study employs a quantitative
approach to explore the intersection of
language and ecology.
• DW News-climate reports.
• Timeframe—November 1, 2023 to February
29, 2024.
• LancsBox-6.0 (Brezina et al., 2015, 2018,
2020), software was used for the analysis

16. Methodology
• The Stibbe’s (2021) nine stories
framework was adopted as theoretical
framework.
• 65 climate reports.
• consisted of 49,076 tokens and 6996
types.

17. Adopted from Ecolinguistics, Language, ecology and the stories we live by (Stibbe, 2021, p.17)
Stibbe’s
nine
stories
framework

18. Data Analysis
Concordance/Context

19. Concordance/Context
Data Analysis

20. GraphColl
“Climate”

21. Finding
• The finding suggests that
search term “climate” occurs
163 times (33.21 per 10k) in
DW in 54 texts out of 65 texts.

22. Conclusion
The climate reports of Deutsche Welle
news create various ideologies i.e.,
• horrific,
• protective measurements
• and futuristic actions,
through different discourses in the
minds of people.

23. Future Research
• Pakistani news may be
explored for the purpose to
know that how do they address
the climate in the print media
news.
• Specifically, climate reports
presented in regional languages

24. Recommendation
• News channels (media) may
adopt certain discourses which
contribute to climate change
and its preventive measures.

25. References
• Ain, Q., Ahmed, F., Ghilzai, S. A., & Asim, M. (2023). The erasure of nature becoming the new
normal: An ecolinguistic analysis of Food products’ commercial discourse of multinational
companies. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 10(1), 2164405.
• Alexander, R. (2010). Framing discourse on the environment: A critical discourse approach. London:
Routledge.
• Baker, S. (2005). Sustainable development. London: Routledge.
• Buonvivere, L. (2024). Positive discourse analysis of Aotearoa New Zealand Foreign Minister’s
speeches: an ecolinguistic perspective. Journal of World Languages.
• Damico, J. S., Baildon, M., & Panos, A. (2020). Climate justice literacy: Stories‐we‐live‐by,
ecolinguistics, and classroom practice. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 63(6), 683-691.
• Eliasson, S. (2015). The birth of language ecology: Interdisciplinary influences in Einar Haugen's
“The ecology of language”. Language Sciences, 50, 78-92.

26. References
• Fairclough, N. (1992). Discourse and Social Change. Polity Press.
• Fill, A. (1998). Ecolinguistics—State of the art 1998. AAA: Arbeiten aus Anglistik und Amerikanistik,
3-16.
• Goatly, A. (1996). Green grammar and grammatical metaphor, or language and the myth of power, or
metaphors we die by. Journal of pragmatics, 25(4), 537-560.
• Goffman, E. (1974). Frame analysis: An essay on the organization of experience. Harvard University
Press.
• Ha, C. (2023). The year’s work in ecolinguistics 2022. Journal of World Languages, 9(2), 231-252.
https://doi.org/10.1515/jwl-2023-0001
• Halliday, M. A. (1992). New ways of meaning: The challenge to applied linguistics. Thirty years of
linguistic evolution, 59-95.
• Haugen, E. (2001). The ecology of language. The ecolinguistics reader: Language, ecology and
environment, 57-66.
• Haugen, E. (1971). The ecology of language. Linguistic Reporter.

27. References
• Norton, C., & Hulme, M. (2019). Telling one story, or many? An ecolinguistic analysis of
climate change stories in UK national newspaper editorials. Geoforum, 104, 114-136.
• Palmer, J. D. (1974). Language ecology. TESOL Quarterly, 225-232.
• Penz, H., & Fill, A. (2022). Ecolinguistics: History, today, and tomorrow. Journal of World
Languages, 8(2), 232-253.
• Sapir, E. (2001). Language and Environment [1912]. The Ecolinguistic Reader: Language,
ecology and environment/ed. By A. Nerlich, B., Koteyko, N., & Brown, B. (2010). Theory
and language of climate change communication. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate
Change, 1(1), 97-110.
• Stibbe, A. (2014). An ecolinguistic approach to critical discourse studies. Critical discourse
studies, 11(1), 117-128.
• Stibbe, A. (2015). Ecolinguistics: Language, ecology and the stories we live by. Routledge.

28. References
• Wang, H., Zhai, R., & Zhao, X. (2019). Analysis of the UN
Secretary-general's Remarks on Climate Change: From the View
of Ecolinguistics. Journal of Language Teaching and Research,
10(4), 851-857.
• Zahoor, M., & Janjua, F. (2020). Green contents in English
language textbooks in Pakistan: An ecolinguistic and
ecopedagogical appraisal. British Educational Research Journal,
46(2), 321-338.

29. Thank you
Muhammad Saleem
saleemsafi5@gamil.com

30. Q&A sessions
• Your comment, suggestion,
and recommendation will be
acknowledged and
appreciated.