CONTESTATION OF NEWSPAPER DISCOURSES IN THE NOVEL PEROESOEHAN DI KOEDOES:A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

Newspapers are the primary medium of moulding discourse on significant events, including the anti-Chinese riots in Koedoes, also known as Kudus, Central Java in 1918. Some publications even created conversations to further their goals of broadcasting news to the public. Hence, this study aimsto examine discourse conflicts featured in newspapers highlighted by the novel Peroesoehan di Koedoes by Tan Boen Kim (TBK). A qualitative descriptive approach was utilised in this study, with an emphasis on the identification of news cuttings featured in the novel. Data was processed using Teun A. Van Dijk’scritical discourse analysis theory, focusing on social context, text structure and social cognition. Findingsindicated thatthe contestation of discourse in the newspaper cuttings was an attempt to influence public opinion.Sin Po, a Chinese newspaper, focused on protecting Chinese victims, whereasDe Locomotief, a Dutch periodical, focused on the hazardous propaganda by indigenous groups. Conversely, Sinar Hindia, a Bumiputeranewspaper, focused on the protection of residents and the Islamic Union (SI). The outlet also wrote a clarification to relieve the Bumiputeraof responsibility. In addition, specific newspapers could have potentially displayed ulterior motives. TBK’s choice of stories might also indicate his aim to denounce the rioters’ crimes against ethnic Chinese. Future research can explore other TBK works through critical discourse analysis as well to map his tendencies during the production of discourse.