Differences in the corruption coverage in news media by Kazakh and Russian languages

Abstract

This study aims to find the different ways corruption has been reported in Kazakh and Russian languages by a-year-content-analysis in three Kazakhstani news outlets. The comparative content analysis of news written in native Kazakh language and Russian, the language of a former colon, from whom Kazakhstan gained independence only thirty years ago, can give useful insights into the various shapes bilingualism has taken throughout the years. The findings suggest that use of Kazakh and Russian languages in the media is not simply a matter of choice, but a more complex issue which requires closer attention. Thus, this study of bilingualism touches upon linguistic, social, cultural, political, and historical factors that construct the use of both Kazakh and Russian languages in an everyday context. It does so via the content analysis of a crucial problem in Kazakhstan, corruption, as its broadness allows to reveal patterns related to the use of the language. Secondly, its high sensitivity can be an indication of how different stakeholders (government and media owners) might use languages as a tool for manipulation. Keywords: Bilingualism, media coverage, corruption

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