Syntactic Analysis of Language Used in Selected Nigerian Newspapers

Abstract This study examines the influence of theta roles and noun phrases (NPs) within the syntactic structures of Nigerian newspapers by focusing on how these elements contribute to framing news narratives and shaping public discourse. The objectives include identifying and categorizing NPs in selected newspapers, assigning theta roles to each NP to understand their semantic contribution and analysing the impact of these roles on narrative structure. Additionally, the study quantifies the proportion of theta roles in shaping discourse and explores their roles in emphasizing or downplaying narrative elements. Using a purposive random sampling technique, five major Nigerian newspapers—Daily Trust, The Guardian, Leadership, Premium Times, and Vanguard—were selected for analysis. The research draws on theoretical insights from Chomsky, Haegeman, and Carnie, employing a descriptive survey design with a qualitative approach. Through systematic content analysis, findings reveal that the strategic use of theta roles in syntactic structures significantly influences how news stories are framed, often guiding readers' perceptions by highlighting certain aspects over others. These insights have implications for media literacy, as understanding the theta roles within syntactic structures can help readers critically evaluate news narratives.