REPRESENTING QUEEN ELIZABETH II’S CHRISTMAS ADDRESS 2020 IN NEWS TEXTS: TRANSFORMATION MODELS

Abstract

The intergenre transformation of the British queen’s Christmas address implies the recoding of its content by means of the media genre, with both the composition and the linguistic units being modified. The survey offers transformation models of Elizabeth II’s speech in three online publications: British, American and Canadian. In terms of disposition, the Queen’s Christmas address in 2020 highlights the struggle of her people against the coronavirus pandemic and is represented by eight themes, the arrangement of which is subject to the author’s intention to influence mass audience. In this case, the Queen’s speech contains three key ideas: the light that brings hope; her fascination with the actions of people in challenging times; gratitude to both frontline workers and volunteers. The representation of the sovereign’s speech in the British issue is focused on positioning the monarch as a caring and thankful person. The idea of support and words of consolation and reassurance are represented in the strong positions of the text, and the placement of the topics in the main block reflects the need to encourage people during the pandemic. Verbalization of the speech content in the American issue emphasizes the idea of support, monarch’s approval of frontline workers and the indomitable spirit of ordinary citizens, while the main block of the article reflects the hierarchy of topics as to the role of religious holiday and its practices. The Canadian publication puts the idea of hope in the headline and points to the rapprochement of people, the main block of the text focuses on the contribution of ordinary people to the fight against the virus, quotes words of support and gratitude. All three news texts offer words of consolation to those who have lost those dear to them, directly quoting the Queen to enhance the objectivity of the news; reflect gratitude to the medical staff and provide the final part of the speech on the role of Christmas for believers. Differences in the presentation of the speech content are due to the focus of each publication on its own audience with its needs and background knowledge.