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An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 1

Running head: An SFL Analysis of Two Genres

Press Releases and News Articles:


A Systemic Functional Linguistics Analysis of Two Genres
B.A. Hodges

Introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistics


School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies
Carleton University
December 20, 2006

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 2


Introduction
The inspiration for this text analysis was to determine through systemic functional
linguistics (SFL) how press releases and newspaper articles differ, and whether and how
press releases might be considered a genre in their own right. During seven years as a
newspaper reporter in the United States, a large number of press releases passed through
this authors hands (usually for only a few seconds before finding their way to the
recycling bin). I was continuously struck by how similar to newspaper articles their
writers attempted to make them appear, and yet at the same time, how contrived and
artificial they seemed.
Traditional terminology of the journalism profession, such as inverted pyramid
style (arrangement of news in an article from most important to least important) and lede
(first sentence of an article, which generally includes the who, what, where, when, why,
and how) cannot be easily accounted for through SFL. Nevertheless, many SFL concepts
can help link the lexicogrammatical and semantic levels with the register and genre, in an
attempt to show how one press release differs from a news article.
Through SFL, this contrastive text analysis will compare one press release and
one news article about the same topic, published within one day of one another (see
Appendices A and B). The press release is from Wal-Mart, a well-known, U.S.-based
chain of stores with global reach. It is essentially an announcement of the companys plan
to sell generic drugs at its in-store pharmacies for four dollars. The news article also
provides an account of the drug plan.

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 3


Theory
SFL is an approach to studying language which considers how language
accomplishes tasks through various choices. SFL breaks from the linguistic tradition of
Chomsky by not only considering linguistic structures, but the social context within
which language takes place. Halliday (1985) has long been credited as the founder of
SFL.
Within the SFL system, a series of choices in language are referred to as a text (be
it written or spoken). Texts exist within a context that includes field, tenor, and mode,
which together are known as register. Mode simply refers to the interactive role that the
text plays. At its most basic level, mode includes written and spoken texts (visual versus
aural). Tenor describes the role of the participants, which includes power differentiation,
frequency of contact, and level of affective involvement. (Consider the differences
between formal and informal conversations.) Field considers the context of external
activity surrounding the use of the text (e.g., a conversation during a basketball game
versus a discussion during a geology course.)
Aside from register, SFL also considers the role of culture within texts (genre),
which is what we are foremost concerned with in this paper. This important consideration
reminds us that meaning is not static; we are in fact constantly recreating and redefining
meaning through culture. For a text to belong to a genre, it has to share what Eggins
(2004) describes as a genres cultural purpose. In other words, every text occurs within a
context that itself determines to some degree its meaning and reason for existence.
Similarly, according to Martin (1984, p. 25), a texts generic identity requires that it be a
staged, goal-oriented, purposeful activity in which speakers engage as members of our

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 4


culture. It is important to note that texts of the same genre inevitably have similar
registerial characteristics, and share similar progressions. We will examine these in this
study.
Finally, SFL describes language in three semantic categories of meaning: textual,
ideational, and interpersonal. Choices within each of these three semantic categories are
further described through choices within three categories at the lexicogrammatical level.
For example, theme, coherence, cohesion, ellipsis, reference, substitution, and
conjunction all provide textual meaning. Clause structure, including hypotactic and
paratactic clauses, relate to ideational meaning. Mood, modality and verbal processes
relate to interpersonal meaning.
Review of Literature
Lassen (2006) considers the contextual setting of press releases, which, before the
widespread use of the Internet, meant that they existed only on paper and were shared
only with media outlets. According to Jacobs (1999, xi): the only raison dtre of the
press release is to be retoldas accurately as possible, preferably even verbatim, in news
reporting. (While Lassen notes that today companies can post such texts to their Web
sites, evidence that such sites are as widely read or viewed as objective as newspapers is
hard to find.)
Lassen (2006) suggests a distinction between context-derived and text-derived
rhetorical objectives, which seems to counter the basis of SFL: contextual features of a
text can be exemplified through textual ones. Lassen defines context-derived objectives
as objectives that are socially motivated but cannot be read off the text immediately
available to the reader or analyst (p. 505). Lemke (1985, p. 276, cited in Lassen) adds

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 5


that such context-derived objectives create relevant contexts for each others
interpretation.
The study by Lassen (2006) included eighteen Internet press releases on Web sites
all showing an interest in biotechnology and all with a link named either press releases
or news releases (p. 511). A year earlier, McLaren & Gurau (2005) studied
approximately 50 press releases published by biotechnology companies in the United
Kingdom. These authors also attempted to find a relationship between textual
conventions and contextual features of the press release genre by studying purpose and
audience. Through the comparison of a press release and a newspaper article, the present
analysis differs from these previous two studies.
Methodology
Since genre comparison can potentially involve all of the various systems of SFL,
this study includes a side-by-side comparison of the two texts using most of the major
systems. According to Eggins (2004),
The higher the contextual dimension involved in the problem, the greater the
number of analyses at risk. For example, interest in generic variation between
two texts will almost certainly involve analysis of a number of systems, since
genre is realized through configurations of all the register variables, which means
all the cohesive and lexicogrammatical systems are likely to be influenced. (p.
331)
Before conducting the analysis, the author made the following hypotheses:

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 6


1. Generically, press releases are modeled after news articles through the same
structural series. Consequently, press releases will appear similar to news
articles in ideational features, such as clause complex and use of adjuncts.
2. In the press release, it is predicted that hypotaxis will more frequently convey
positive benefits of a companys actions, goods, or services. In a news article,
hypotaxis is more likely to show contrast.
3. Interpersonally, both texts will employ many similar verbal processes.
However, press releases will differ greatly from news articles in the roles
modals play, and contain less negative polarity.
Analysis
Registerial-Situational Analysis
1. Field.
Press releases serve as many purposes as the messages that companies and
institutions seek to convey to the public, including not only announcements about new
goods and services for sale, but political messages and human interest stories. In our
selections, the field involves prescription drug prices. Evidence of this can be found in
the lexical choices made in each. For example, drug appears seven times in the press
release, and twenty-one times in the news article.
2. Mode
The two texts modes are written and generally used as one-way communication
devices. This explains why, in tenor, contact and affective involvement are low to none.

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 7


3. Tenor
In each text, the power relationship between the author and audience is unequal.
This is evidenced by the mood analysis (see Table 2), in which clauses were noted to be
entirely declarative. However, it is an unstated fact that press releases are often written
with the hope that they will be used verbatim (i.e., with minimal editing) as a news
article. They have a clear purpose to persuade the reader to agree to an opinion or take an
action (e.g., vote for a particular candidate, contribute money to a particular organization,
purchase a particular product or service). In contrast, news articles typically exist for the
sake of informing the public, as well as for selling more copies of newspapers and
attracting more online readers, which in turn allow publishers to attract more advertisers
and raise their rates for advertising space. For this reason, the tenor relationships between
the author and the audience differ.
Generic Analysis
The press release includes quotes from key stakeholders and a closing paragraph
providing basic information about the company. In contrast to many corporate press
releases, it also includes quotations from two outsiderspoliticians in both cases, one
Democrat, the other, Republican. To be sure, comments from both are positive (see Table
1). Unlike the news article, the press release lacks an author.
The news article also includes sources from the company, as well as from industry
and financial analysts. However, its content differs from the press release in that it also
speculates about consequencesboth positive and negativeof the companys
announcement.

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 8


A paragraph-by-paragraph analysis is helpful in comparing the generic structure
of the two texts. The two appear similar in terms of an opening announcement with a
time marker (today, Thursday), as well as frequently alternating quoted and non-quoted
information. Apart from that, however, they differ greatly. The news article contains the
authors name; the press release does not. All of the quotations in the press release are
supportive of the original announcement; some of those in the news article are not. The
news article contains much more contextual information not directly related to the
company or the announcement, as well as more sources of information. Many of the news
articles contrasts are notable through the use of conjunctive adjuncts such as however
and although. The speculation in contextual paragraphs is often marked by modals such
as could and may (see Table 3).
Table 1. Generic structure potential of the two texts.
Press Release - Stages
News Article - Stages
Headline
Headline
Date last updated
Byline (authors name)
Subhead
Dateline / location
Paragraph 1: Announcement
Paragraphs 1-2: Announcement
Paragraph 2: Supportive quotation
Paragraph 3: Advantages
Paragraphs 3-4: Context
Paragraph 4: Supportive quotation
Paragraph 5: Advantages
Paragraphs 5-6: Supportive and critical quotation
Paragraph 6: Supportive quotation
Paragraph 7: Supportive quotation
Paragraph 7: Disadvantages
Paragraph 8: Advantages
Paragraphs 8-9: Countering quotation
Paragraph 9: Advantages
Paragraph 10: Supportive quotation
Paragraph 10: Supportive quotation
Paragraph 11: Context, disadvantages
Paragraph 11: Supportive quotation
Paragraph 12: For more information
Paragraphs 12-15: Context
Paragraph 13: About the company
Paragraph 16: Advantages and disadvantages
Paragraph 17: Context
Paragraph 18: Supportive quotation
Paragraphs 19-20: Critical quotation
Paragraphs 21-22: Countering context
Paragraph 23: Contributors

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 9


Lexicogrammatical Analysis
1. Mood Analysis
All ranking and embedded clauses in the two texts were categorized by their basic
mood class. (See Table 2). Declarative statements are the only mood structure present in
both texts, clearly indicating that the primary purpose of both texts is to provide
information, as well as uneven power relationship already described in Tenor.
Table 2. Mood Analysis.
Mood Class
offer
statement
command
question

Press Release
0
68
0
0

News Article
0
64
0
0

However, the texts differ significantly in modality (see Table 3, which includes a
complete list of modals found in both texts). For example, in the press release, will is
used more frequently for promises and to express certainty: The $4 pricing will, The
program will, This act of good corporate citizenship will. The modal will is employed a
total of twelve times in the thirteen paragraphs in the press release.
The modal can is repeatedly used to state the options of customers, who are the
recipients in every case, whether present or not. (Note that customers are also the
audience in the tenor relationship). In three out of five cases, customers are the actor: they
can afford, they can treat illness, and customers can call. In the two other cases, the
relationship is more subtle: a prescription from a doctor that can be filled with a covered
generic medicine, and more information about Wal-Mart can be found.
Table 3. Modalization, Modulation, and Negation.
Press release
Modalization
Each day, annually, typically
Modulation
should, will, will, will, will, will,
will, will, will, will, will, will, will,
may, can, can, can, can, can
Negation
not, not

News article
likely
could, would, would, would,
wouldnt, will, will, may, may
not, nt, nt, nt, nt

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 10


In contrast, the news article contains many examples of modals used for
speculation (would, could, and may). For example, in the second paragraph, would was
used two times instead of will: Executives didn't say when consumers in Georgia would
see a drop in prices, but they told reporters in a conference call that they would take the
new pricing to "as many states as possible" next year.
The news article also contains more negative polarity (not and nt). In the press
release, not is employed only two times at the end: At this time, the $4 prescriptions are
not available by mail order and are available on-line only for in-person pickup in the
Tampa Bay, Fla. area. Not all generics in each therapeutic category are included.
Interestingly, while each text contains only two conjunctive adjuncts, the two in the news
article are contrastive while the two in the press release indicate cause and addition (see
Table 4).
Table 4. Textual Adjuncts.
Press release
because, in addition

News article
however, although

2. Transitivity Analysis
According to Eggins (2004, p. 249), Transitivity patterns represent the encoding
of experiential meanings: meanings about the world, about experience, about how we
perceive and experience what is going on. When each clause of the two texts was
analyzed for process type (see Table 5), far more material processes were noted than
other categories. However, within these material processes, the press release appears to
convey a sense of altruism through the use of help (used three times), as well as benefit,
ensure, and provide, in which Wal-Mart, the program, or good corporate citizenship are
actors. In contrast, the news article contains no such processes in which the company is
the actor and customers are the goal. Finally, the two texts share similar verbal processes

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 11


(e.g., announced and said). This is typical of both press releases and news articles, which
frequently attribute information and quotations to people.
Table 5. Transitivity.
Process Type
Sub-Type
Material
Event and
Action

Mental

Perception

Cognition

Affection
Verbal

Relational

Attributive
(irreversible,
w/ adjective)

Identifying
(reversible,
w/ noun)

Possessive
Causative
Existential
Behavioral

Press release
cuts, to take, to be launched,
will be expanded, struggle,
are helping, to ensure, get,
will be accepted, covers, are
used, to treat, manage, to
take, has hurt, to take, do,
will help, alleviate, have
fallen, find, will help, chose,
to launch, will benefit, to
shape, will follow, provides,
may avoid, estimates, will
save, costs, saves, can treat,
can manage, can stay, are
eating up, brings, cost
see

aims, intends, noted, need,


can afford, is encouraging,
need
-announced, said, said, said,
said, should ask

to be (available), will be
(available), will be
(available), will be
(available), will be
(available), have been
(absent), are (excited), am
(pleased), are (effective), is
(available), is (right), are not
(available), are available
is (a real solution), is (a
pretty darn good deal),
represents (a nearly 50
percent savings), are
(medicines), are included,
are included, contain
has (the ability)
will make (available)
---

News article
will chop, unleashed, is rolling
out, to expand, would take, could
have (a major impact), puts, to
lower, flocking, may be forced, to
follow, is going to hurt, dont offer,
will buy, wouldnt be sold, has
used, to knock out, declined,
would cost, was not pressuring, to
reduce, to do, are applying,
spent, follow, shaved, closed, fell,
fell, to give, is trying, to overcome,
are forced, to pick up, turn,
deflected, allowed, contributed
would see, is looking at, was
perceived, may have been
looking for
plans, is expected

didnt say, told, said, said, told, to


say, said, said, said, said, said,
said, say, contend, announced,
has announced
are (uninsured), are (higher), are
(higher), are (able), is ($28.74),
are (chemically identical), are
(cheaper), dont have (the
research and marketing costs),
seemed (worried), was (a buying
opportunity), to get (prescriptions)

include (common medicines), is


(a positive), start, represents
(customer savings)

---

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 12


2. Clause complex analysis
Comparing hypotactic and paratactic roles between clauses within the two texts, it
was noted that many examples of hypotactic projection occur through attribution to
quotations and information from the company and various people. (A complete count of
clauses by type has not been included as this did not seem beneficial in explaining their
purpose.) Several examples of hypotaxis exist that show the benefits of Wal-Marts drug
plan. One example is in the first, non-finite clause of this sentence: By cutting the cost of
many generics to $4, we are helping to ensure that our customers and associates get the
medicines they need at a price they can afford. Thats a real solution for our nations
working families. A second is in the following sentence: The program will help alleviate
a major challenge for seniors who have fallen into the doughnut hole coverage gap in
their Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and now find themselves responsible for
paying 100 percent of their prescription medicine costs.
In contrast, the news article frequently employs hypotaxis in order to speculate on
possible outcomes: "That's going to hurt them business-wise because [profit] margins are
higher on generic drugs than they are on branded drugs." Another example is in the
following sentence, which includes hypotactic clauses of projection and expansion: By
selling the generics at prices that don't offer much, if any, profit, Wal-Mart is likely
looking at the drugs as yet another "loss leader," analysts said, wooing customers away
from competing pharmacy chains with the hope that shoppers will buy products in other
departments.

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 13


Conclusion
Since the present study has only attempted to compare one press release and one
news article, it should not be used to deduce that all press releases and news articles
follow similar patterns in all cases. Furthermore, while many other systems that SFL
offers could have been analyzed within the two texts (e.g., theme and lexical collocation),
this study has attempted to address those with the most potential for illustrating potential
differences. At the registerial level, tenor appeared to be the most likely to show potential
differences. Consequently, at the lexicogrammatical level, the study primarily sought to
address mood.
In contrast to the first hypothesis of the author in Methodology, the patterns of
stages within the generic structure of each text indeed appeared to differ. Further
evidence of how they differ was found in the role of the textual adjuncts, as well as in the
actors and goals of the material processes. The second hypothesis, that hypotaxis would
more frequently convey positive benefits of a companys actions, goods, or services
while showing contrast and speculation in the news article, appeared to be the case. The
third hypothesis, that both texts would employ many of the same verbal processes, also
appeared to be true. In addition, modals served different purposes, and the press release
contained less negative polarity than the news article.

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 14


Appendix A - Press Release (Wal-Mart cuts generic prescription medicines to $4, 2006)

Wal-Mart Cuts Generic Prescription Medicines to $4


Last Updated: Monday, September 25, 2006

Nearly 300 Generics to be Available in Tampa on Friday; Florida Statewide by


January; Company Aims to Take Nationwide
BENTONVILLE, Ark. Sept. 21, 2006 As part of its ongoing commitment to providing
more affordable healthcare for Americas working families, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
today announced that it will make nearly 300 generic drugs available for only $4 per
prescription for up to a 30-day supply at commonly prescribed dosages. The program, to be
launched on Friday, will be available to customers and associates of the 65 Wal-Mart,
Neighborhood Market and Sams Club pharmacies in Tampa Bay, Fla. area, and will be
expanded to the entire state in January 2007.
Each day in our pharmacies we see customers struggle with the cost of prescription drugs,
said Wal-Mart CEO H. Lee Scott, Jr. By cutting the cost of many generics to $4, we are
helping to ensure that our customers and associates get the medicines they need at a price
they can afford. Thats a real solution for our nations working families.
Key components of the program include:

The $4 pricing will be available to all pharmacy customers with a prescription from a
doctor that can be filled with a covered generic medicine.
This program will be available to the uninsured.
Insurance will be accepted.
The program presently covers 291 generic medications from many of the most
common therapeutic categories.
The medicines represented are used to treat and manage conditions including
allergies, cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Some antibiotics,
antidepressants, antipsychotics and prescription vitamins are also included.
The program will be available statewide in Florida in January 2007.
Wal-Mart intends to take the program to as many states as possible next year.

Competition and market forces have been absent from our healthcare system, and that has
hurt working families tremendously, Scott said. We are excited to take the lead in doing
what we do best driving costs out of the system and passing those savings to our
customers and associates.
The program will help alleviate a major challenge for seniors who have fallen into the
doughnut hole coverage gap in their Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and now find
themselves responsible for paying 100 percent of their prescription medicine costs.
This act of good corporate citizenship will help consumers manage healthcare costs, while
benefiting Floridas growing population, said Florida Governor Jeb Bush. In addition to
providing a great service, Wal-Mart is encouraging important conversations between patients
and their doctors about the cost savings associated with generic prescriptions. I am pleased
Wal-Mart chose Florida to launch this initiative where our large population of seniors will
greatly benefit.
Fifty-bucks for a years supply of prescription drugs is a pretty darn good deal for
consumers, said U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), an outspoken proponent of giving people
access to lower-cost prescriptions. Because Wal-Mart has the ability to shape the market,
maybe other retailers will follow suit.

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 15

In addition, the program provides a solution for the nearly 2.7 million uninsured Floridians who
may also avoid filling prescriptions and remain untreated. Wal-Mart estimates that the
program will save the states Medicaid program hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
In announcing the program, Bill Simon, executive vice president of the Professional Services
Division for Wal-Mart, noted that purchasing a 30-day supply of the popular diabetes drug,
Metformin, for $4 represents a nearly 50 percent savings from the cost of the brand name
version of the drug. In addition, purchasing a 30-day supply of the brand name bloodpressure drug typically costs $12. Getting the generic, Lisinopril, for $4 saves customers
nearly $100 annually.
These are medicines for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, colds and infections the
kinds of medicines that working families need so they can treat illness, manage conditions and
stay well, said Simon. Rising healthcare costs are eating up more and more of families
budgets, so this program brings a lot of value to our customers, associates and communities.
Generic medications contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts
and are equally effective, but cost significantly less. Consumers interested in saving money
on prescriptions through the program should ask their doctor if a generic is available for their
prescription and is right for them. At this time, the $4 prescriptions are not available by mail
order and are available on-line only for in-person pickup in the Tampa Bay, Fla. area. Not all
generics in each therapeutic category are included.
For further information on the program, customers can call 1-800-WALMART or visit their
Tampa area Wal-Mart, Neighborhood Market or Sams Club to discuss the program with their
pharmacist or pick up a brochure that explains program details.
About Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, supercenters, Neighborhood Markets
and SAMS CLUB locations in the United States. The company operates in Argentina, Brazil,
Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The companys securities are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange and NYSE Arca, formerly the Pacific Stock Exchange,
under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting
www.walmartfacts.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com.
###

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 16


Appendix B - News Article (Bond, 2006)
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 1A
LENGTH: 772 words
HEADLINE: WalMart will chop prices of generic drugs
BYLINE: PATTI BOND; Staff
BODY:
Wal-Mart will chop prices of generic drugs
Wal-Mart unleashed more ammunition in its retail domination strategy Thursday,
slashing prices on generic drugs to $4 for a month's supply.
The discount giant is rolling out the new program at pharmacies in the Tampa Bay
area today and plans to expand the price cut to all of its Florida stores by January.
Executives didn't say when consumers in Georgia would see a drop in prices, but they
told reporters in a conference call that they would take the new pricing to "as many states
as possible" next year.
The nearly 300 drugs involved include common medicines used to treat asthma,
cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as antidepressants and antibiotics.
The move by the world's largest retailer could have a major impact both on
consumers --- particularly those who are uninsured --- and on competitors.
"Anything that puts pressure to lower prices on prescription drugs is a positive for
consumers. . . . If people start flocking to Wal-Mart, though, [other retailers] may be
forced to follow," said Richard Monks, senior editor of industry publication Chain Drug
Review.
"That's going to hurt them business-wise because [profit] margins are higher on
generic drugs than they are on branded drugs."
By selling the generics at prices that don't offer much, if any, profit, Wal-Mart is
likely looking at the drugs as yet another "loss leader," analysts said, wooing customers
away from competing pharmacy chains with the hope that shoppers will buy products in
other departments.
However, Bill Simon, executive vice president of Wal-Mart's professional
services division, told reporters in a conference call that the drugs wouldn't be sold at a
loss, a strategy that Wal-Mart has used to knock out competitors in the toy business, for
example.
He declined to say how much the price-cutting program would cost Wal-Mart, but
he said that the retailer was not "pressuring" drug makers to reduce their prices.
"We're able to do this by using one of our greatest strengths as a company. . . our
ability to drive costs out of the system," Simon said. "In this case, we're applying that
business model to health care."
The reduced pricing represents customer savings of up to 70 percent on some
drugs, Wal-Mart said.
The average monthly cost for a generic drug prescription is $28.74, compared
with $96.01 for a branded drug, according to the National Association of Chain Drug
Stores.
Generic drugs are chemically identical to their branded counterparts, but they are
cheaper because generic manufacturers don't have the research and marketing costs of
developing the drugs.

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 17


Consumers spent $53.2 billion on generic drugs last year, according to the
National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and that amount is expected to rise as more
blockbuster name-brand drugs lose their patent protection in coming years.
Consumers spent $184.6 billion on branded drugs last year, according to the
association.
Although Wal-Mart's announcement was perceived as good news on the
consumer front, Wall Street seemed worried about the impact on profits industrywide if
other retailers follow suit.
Investors shaved more than 8 percent off shares of CVS Corp., which closed at
$32.47 a share Thursday. Walgreen shares fell 7 percent to $46.28. Wal-Mart shares fell
less than 1 percent, closing at $48.46.
John Heinbockel, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, said the stock drop was a buying
opportunity, noting that the wave of generic drugs coming on the market over the next
couple of years is expected to give retailers a lift.
Wal-Mart, under fire for its employee health benefits, may have been looking for
another type of lift with the announcement, some retail observers said.
Critics said Wal-Mart is trying to overcome an image problem stemming from an
employee health insurance program that some say is stingy. Critics contend that
taxpayers are forced to pick up costs when Wal-Mart workers turn to state-funded health
care programs, such as Medicaid.
Wal-Mart deflected some of the criticism in April when it announced a new
benefit that allowed employees to get prescriptions for $3.
The retailer has also announced a string of changes to its health care benefits,
relaxing eligibility requirements and extending coverage to children of part-time
employees.
Dow Jones News Service and The Associated Press contributed to this article.

An SFL Analysis of Two Genres 18


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Jacobs, G. (1999). Preformulating the news. An analysis of the metapragmatics of press
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Lassen, I. (2006). Is the press release a genre? A study of form and content. Discourse
Studies, 8(4), 503-530.
Lemke, J. (1985). Ideology, intertextuality, and the notion of register. In J.D. Benson &
W.S. Greaves (eds.) Systemic Perspectives on Discourse, Vol. 1 (pp. 275-294).
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Release. LSP and Professional Communication, 5(1), pp. 10-30.
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Nov. 19, 2006 from http://www.walmartfacts.com.

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