EVALUATION IN MASS MEDIA TEXTS: GENRE DIFFERENTIATION POTENTIAL

The study examines the potential of the evaluation to differentiate mass media texts according to their genre. As mass media are aimed at value formation and reflection of different positions and views, evaluation plays here a central role. Thus, its specifics and the way it is realized vary in different genres. The analysis was conducted on the material of opinion articles and editorials, where the author’s image, voice and evaluation are not equally reflected. While analyzing the material we considered such points as subject of evaluation (the author’s or intertextual); direct or indirect way of evaluation; type of evaluation according to its function (emotional, evaluation of the object itself, author’s attitude), which is based on the Attitude sub-system of Martin and White's (2005) Appraisal framework. The analysis demonstrated difference in the way evaluation is rendered in editorials and opinion articles based on the genres’ functions, which means evaluation has potential to be used as genre differentiating instrument.