Multimodal discourse analysis of JK live talk show on Citizen TV in Kenya

Abstract

With technological advancement, multimodal texts have become common. Talk shows exemplify this trend, as their content and communicative purposes are shaped by the sociocultural contexts from which they emerge. This study examined Citizen TV’s JK Live talk show as a multimodal text, based on the premise that social semiotic resources are integral to discourse composition. While previous research has examined talk shows through conversation analysis, genre analysis or audience reception, few studies have analysed TV talk shows as multimodal texts and there is limited research specifically investigating how verbal, non-verbal and visual modes interact in JK Live talk show to construct meaning. The study aimed to explore the modes and their actions in the show, examine their interactions and interrelationships and evaluate the meanings drawn by the modes. The study was anchored on two analytical approaches that are essential in understanding social interactions: Multimodal Discourse Analysis and Frame Analysis. The researcher adopted a descriptive research design with qualitative data collection methods. Four purposively selected episodes were downloaded from Citizen TV’s YouTube channel. Observation and focus group discussions were employed as data collection instruments. The findings of this study led to the conclusion that participants’ interactions influenced modal interactions, which in turn shaped how meanings were constructed in the show. The meanings that emerged from the interaction of the modes contributed to the understanding of JK Live talk show as a social event. This study thus provides insights for academics, media practitioners, educators and the general public in relation to understanding multimodal communication.