Elysian Journal : English Literature, Linguistics, and Translation Studies
Vol. 5 No. 4 (2025): Elysian Journal: English Literature, Linguistics, and Translation Studies

Clause as Exchange and Representation Analyses in Jokowi’s False Diploma Scandal News Article: An SFL Approach

Muhammad Aziz Fitratama (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
28 Nov 2025

Abstract

This study examines how language shapes public opinion in news articles about President Joko Widodo's alleged fraudulent diploma. Using the Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) framework, the study focuses on the clause as exchange (Mood system) and clause as representation (Transitivity system) to investigate the interpersonal and ideational meanings encoded in the text. The research uses a qualitative descriptive method based on Halliday and Matthiessen's (2014) theory to examine chosen online news stories from national media sources that cover the diploma issue. Each clause is evaluated to determine the mood types, process types, participants, and conditions. The findings suggest a predominance of declarative Mood types, which are employed to explain facts and assert claims, indicating how authors establish authority and persuade readers. Material and relational processes are the most commonly used, emphasizing acts and assigning attributes to Jokowi and institutional actors. This study concludes that news articles covering politically sensitive matters such as Jokowi's diploma are not objective, but are affected by linguistic tactics that serve ideological purposes. Using SFL analysis, the study demonstrates how media language produces social reality, contributing to critical media literacy and discourse awareness in sociopolitical contexts.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

elysian

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

ELYSIAN JOURNAL is a journal with the scope of literary studies, linguistics and English translation published by the English Study Program, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Mahasaraswati Denpasar University (FBA UNMAS Denpasar). This journal is published four times a year accommodating articles ...