THE TRANSFORMATION OF RESISTANCE DISCOURSE INTO THREAT DISCOURSE IN THE VERBAL NARRATIVE OF THE GAME HOGWARTS LEGACY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21009/ishel.v2i1.73050Keywords:
critical discourse analysis, hogwarts legacy, resistance discourse, hegemony, counterpublicsAbstract
This study examines how the verbal narrative of Hogwarts Legacy transforms Goblin resistance discourse into threat discourse. Despite experiencing structural discrimination, particularly exclusion from wandlore, the Goblins’ rebellion under Ranrok is portrayed as destructive, legitimizing wizard authority while delegitimizing marginalized resistance. The study also critically addresses the reproduction of anti-Semitic stereotypes in Goblin representation. Employing Fairclough’s three-dimensional Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), supported by Gramsci’s hegemony and Fraser’s counterpublics, this study investigates the linguistic and ideological mechanisms underlying this discursive transformation. Data consist of dialogues, cutscenes, descriptive texts, field guides, and ambient dialogue from the main storyline of the PC Steam version, collected through systematic gameplay and verbatim transcription. Analysis follows Fairclough’s stages of description, interpretation, and explanation, with trustworthiness assessed using Lincoln and Guba’s criteria. This study contributes to critical linguistic game studies by revealing how interactive narratives reproduce ideological power relations and marginalize resistance. Its novelty lies in conceptualizing the transformation of resistance discourse into threat discourse and counterpublic co-optation as mechanisms through which marginalized voices are delegitimized in video game narratives.
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