Power and Hegemony in the Language of Employment Agreements of Selected Institutions: A Transitivity Analysis

Abstract

This qualitative study analyzes the power dynamics, hegemony, and marginalization present in the language of the employment agreements of the selected institutions. The researchers have analyzed how power and hegemony are exercised through language and how these elements contribute to the marginalization of the employees. The research uses a tailored framework by integrating Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics, Foucault’s concept of power, and Gramsci’s theory of hegemony to understand and analyze the power and hegemony in the selected text. The findings reveal imbalanced power relations between the employers and the employees that favor the employers’ interests and marginalize the employees’ rights. The paper highlights the need to promote fair, equitable, and less hegemonic language in employment agreements that comply with labor laws and protect workers’ rights.