An Ecolinguistic Study on the Winning Answers of Miss Earth Candidates: Language Use in Focus

The purpose of this study was to examine the morpho-semantic features and ecological ideologies embedded in the winning responses of Miss Earth candidates. Specifically, it aimed to analyze how language is used to promote environmental advocacy through structured speech. This study employed a qualitative research design using discourse analysis as its primary method. The data consisted of 51 responses from Miss Earth candidates, which were analyzed to identify linguistic patterns and ideological content. The findings revealed that the candidates' responses exhibited a range of morphological and semantic features, such as affixation, compounding, conversion and the use of abstract environmental terms, which contributed to the clarity and persuasiveness of their advocacies. Furthermore, three categories of ecological ideologies emerged from the analysis: acquired ideology (influenced by personal and cultural background), expressed ideology (conveyed explicitly in their statements), and propagated ideology (intended to influence others). These ideologies reflected not only the candidates’ environmental beliefs but also their alignment with global sustainability narratives. In conclusion, the study demonstrates how the strategic use of language in beauty pageants like Miss Earth can serve as a powerful tool for communicating environmental awareness and inspiring global action. The results underscore the importance of examining advocacy discourse to better understand how language shapes public engagement with ecological issues.