An Ecolinguistic Reading of Ecological Eraser of Plants and Animals through Masking and Trace in the Selected Environmental Science Books

Abstract

Abstract

            This research attempts to explore the eraser of plants and animals from the selected Environmental Science textbooks. The research employs Stibbe’s model of erasure to examine how linguistic methods marginalize the world around us as well as shaping the minds of the readers. The research applies qualitative research method to examine the selected textbooks. The research identifies and explores two types of ecological erasure: mask and trace. First is mask which erases the entity in moulded form and misrepresent it. It include five techniques i.e. co-hyponymy, metaphors, transitivity pattern, metonymy and noun phrases construction. These techniques and strategies have been frequently used in the selected textbooks of environmental science at graduate level in Pakistan. Second is trace which is partial or half erasure. This type of erasure include hyponymy and massification. The researchers have tried to explore these seven methods in the selected texts through purposive sampling approach. The data has been collected from the targeted textbooks. The findings provide that the selected books have two types of erasure i.e. mask and trace.  The presence of erasure varies in the selected discourse. The study suggest further research on avoiding euphemistic and problematic terms that may harm readers.

Key words: environmental science, ecology, erasure, mask, void, trace