Gendered Environmental Discourse: A Corpus-Based Cognitive Investigation

Abstract

The interrelationship between academic discourse and ecolinguistics has become an arena of interest for researchers and academicians. The present study is conducted on academic discourse, which aimed to explore the idea of domination and its influence on environmental discourse. The academic discourse and the contribution of language for framing ecological identities is a particular dimension that is addressed in this study. Operation model of meaning construction in cognitive approach is the theoretical framework wherein the data of text book is analyzed by using the conceptual tool of metonym. The metonymy of pronouns has provided significant insight about framing ecological identities in gendered prospective. The image of nature is observed significantly inclined towards feministic or neutral to some extent whereas the main actor and source availing authoritative aspects are related with masculine ideologies. These ideologies are embedded deep down in our cognition through the cultural values. The academic discourse persistently following the tradition to frame nature as a resource provider rather constructing it mutually shared entity. For raising a new generation in which individuals are sensitized enough that they consider nature as their comrade and living being. It is important to incorporate improved ecological language in the text books to make the students develop a profound acquaintance with environment to transform it from ambivalent to beneficial discourse.