Discursive Constructions of National Image in National Discourse: A Case Study of the Editorials on the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in China Daily

Abstract

This paper studies the discursive construction of national image in national discourse. The editorials published during the 19^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in China Daily are taken as the corpus of study. The results showed that the editorials successfully constructed the national image of China by employing the Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation resources in the texts. Domestically, China is constructed as being confident in solving the problem of imbalances of development, boosting people’s sense of gain, leading the whole nation to realize the Chinese dream, and having the courage to bear the responsibility to improve people’s livelihood and happiness. Internationally, China is constructed as being competent, responsible, valuing fairness and justice, seeking cooperation and mutual benefit, and leading the whole world to pursue common prosperity to build a community of shared destiny for all mankind. The constructed images are themselves the persuasive rhetorical ethos, which leads to the identification of the editorials with the audience.