“Threat”, “Problems”, and “Other”: The Relationship Between Language and Representation of Migrant Labour in Thai Newspaper: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between language and the representation of migrant labor in Thai newspaper news discourse using critical discourse analysis. The analysis reveals that language is adopted to construct representations and meanings of migrant labor shaped by the interpretative frameworks of journalists who exercise editorial discretion, evaluative judgment, and selective emphasis. Mainly, five representations of migrant labour include: 1) migrant labour as a group of people who illegally enter the country and work illegally and thus are lawbreakers; 2) migrant labour as a group of people with brutal behavior who often cause violence and crimes; 3) migrant labour as a security problem that needs to be managed by government; 4) migrant labour as a vulnerable group or patients with epidemic diseases; 5) migrant labour as other ethnic groups whose status is inferior to Thai people. Several linguistic strategies are used to present these representations. Among these, the outstanding strategies include using referring terms conveying negative evaluation; using material process to presents migrant labour’s “undesirable” actions; using presupposition to imply that migrant labour often behaves undesirably and repeatedly causes problems; and using metaphors to present migrant labour as “burdens” and “others”. These representations are likely to shape societal perceptions of migrant labour within the Thai context, which may potentially engender adverse attitudes and discriminatory actions, including disparities in treatment and a dearth of empathic consideration. It is conceivable that the journalists responsible for such representations may not be fully aware of these possible effects.