A Linguo-Stylistics Analysis of Newspaper Reporting of ICC Cases in Kenya: A Case Study of the Daily Nation and the Standard

Newspaper writers have been accused of manipulating information to achieve their aims and sometimes serve their interest. This research paper took a critical look at the way English language is used in newspaper reporting to communicate sensitive issues and sometimes manipulate information. This research explored the linguistic and communicative significance of newspaper reporting of International Criminal Court case in Kenya against the President and his Deputy. Its objectives were to identify those linguistic features of grammar, lexis and semantics that have been used distinctively by the newspapers to report about the case and whether they were used to manipulate information. The investigation was based on the analysis of seven articles in the two leading dailies in Kenya: ‘The Standard’ and ‘Daily Nation’ newspapers between 20th and 30th September 2014. The reason why the two newspapers were chosen was because of their perceived contrast in political affiliation, availability and extensive readership in the country. This research paper demonstrated that a ‘good’ writer consciously manipulates linguistic and stylistic devices in order to communicate effectively.