Abstract
The application of computer software into the linguistic analysis of texts proves useful to arrive at concise and authentic results from large data texts. Based on this assumption, this paper employs a Computer-Aided Text Analysis (CATA) and a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to explore the manipulative strategies of positive/negative presentation in Orwell's Animal Farm. More specifically, the paper attempts to explore the extent to which CATA software represented by the three variables of Frequency Distribution Analysis (FDA), Content Analysis (CA), and Key Word in Context (KWIC) incorporate with CDA decipher the manipulative purposes beyond positive presentation of selfness and negative presentation of otherness in the selected corpus. The analysis covers some CDA strategies, including justification, false statistics, and competency, for positive self-presentation; and accusation, criticism, and the use of ambiguous words for negative other-presentation. With the application of CATA, some words will be analyzed by showing their frequency distribution analysis as well as their contextual environment in the selected text to expose the extent to which they are employed as strategies of positive/negative presentation in the text under investigation. Findings show that CATA software contributes significantly to the linguistic analysis of large data texts. The paper recommends the use and application of the different CATA software in the stylistic and corpus linguistics studies.