A MULTIMODAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF VISUAL IMAGES IN UNCHR REPORTS ON DISPLACED IRAQIS

Abstract

The advent of UNHCR reports has given rise to the uniqueness of its distinctive way of image representation and using semiotic features.So, there are a lot of researches that have investigated UNHCR reports, but no research has examined images in UNHCR reports of displaced Iraqis from a multimodal discourse Perspective. The present study suggests that the images are, like language, rich in many potential meanings and are governed by clearly visual grammar structures that can be employed to decode these multiple meanings. Seven images are examined in terms of their representational, interactional and compositional aspects.Depending on the results, this study concludes that the findings support the visual grammar theory and highlight the value of images as semiotic resources in conveying multi-layered meanings.Applying Kress and Van Leeuwen’s (2006)modelMultimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA)of analyzing the images in UNHCR reports on the displaced Iraqis succeed in revealing their semiotic structures. The analysis of the selected images shows various relations existed between the participants and the viewers on the visual level through employing different visual modes.