Analysing agency in linguistic representations of action

Abstract

Agency is an important concept in social science, but definitions vary. This paper discusses the treatment of agency in critical linguistics, and argues it could be expanded in terms of scope and linguistic manifestations. It presents a framework for analysing agency in representations of action. This consists of four independent aspects of agency, with each aspect comprised of categories encompassing different levels of agency. The framework is exemplified by examining three official reports into the causes of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Analysis shows how representations of responsibility in the report forewords are linked to the context and institutional aims of each report.