Polyphony, Intertextuality, and Interdiscursivity in the News on King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Death in Daily French Newspapers

Abstract

This article aims to analyse the use of polyphony, intertextuality and interdiscursivity in presenting the news of King Bhumibol Adulyadej or Rama IX's death. The study was conducted on twelve different news articles, available on the websites of five daily French newspapers, namely Le Mond, Le Figaro, La Croix, Libération and France-Soir from Thursday 13^th to Friday 14^th October 2016. 

The five daily French newspapers attempted to narrate the event of the King's death in the most accurate way possible, drawing directly from reliable Thai sources, Additionally, these newspapers also present the King's biography, routines, talents and missions and associate them with the Thai political climate by employing the description of the actual events alongside the newsreporters' commentary through polyphony, intertextuality and interdiscursivity in a way that creates new interpretation. Ultimately, this phenomenon gives rise to the falsely obvious or even myths about the King to their readers.