Abstract

This paper focuses on the application of the appraisal theory, which is rooted in systemic functional linguistics (henceforth SFL), to analyse how media shape the way people perceive reports and news of the Gaza war. Through such an analysis, the paper aims at showing how language works as a tool to create stories that dramatically influence people’s ideological perception. Lazarus’ (1991) model of appraisal is adopted. The model has two levels of assessments: primary and secondary appraisal. The first looks at the immediate perception of events, while the second looks at the ability to respond to these events. The results indicate that drawn media reports chosen depend on cognitive appraisal processes that affect the perception of the public towards the issue being reported and how to react. These reports not only deal with the geopolitical threats incorporated into the war but also represent it as a danger and a problem. This representation of the war invokes negative emotions like anger and frustration.