Systemic Functional Linguistics in the Rhetorical Strategies of Persuasion: A Longitudinal Study of Transitivity and Ergativity in the Rhetoric of Saras’ Sustainability Reports

This study explores the correlation between Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as tools for analysing evolution of rhetoric in communicative strategies adopted a company’s Reports on social environmental responsibility. In more specific terms, Transitivity Ergativity—concepts from —through lenses CDA, are employed theoretical means analysis longitudinal by Saras SpA pre- during Covid-19 pandemic crisis. is an Italian joint-stock company operating oil refining power generation. 
 The qualitative quantitative linguistic carried out using Sketch Engine software, aims to identify explain how built presented through language use Sustainability Reports. Specific focus given communication towards local global communities stakeholders years immediately before pandemic. rationale behind lies fact that 2020 2021 have been among most difficult since end World War II. Lives were abruptly turned upside down pandemic, which had grave negative effects people’s health economy. result has threefold crisis involving health, economy tension, with sector being one hardest hit, industry was affected industries due general reduction mobility consumption brought about virus-fighting measures.
 Emphasis placed construction rhetorical representational process Ergativity, thus revealing close relationship terms grammatical configuration encoded semantic roles syntactic transformation hand, assumptions other. results show decisions regarding Ergativity choices play crucial role effective writing achieves its extending maintaining dominant implicit ideologies underlying persuasive actions, some motivation perpetuated—if not actually overtly or subtly strengthened—in social-environmental issued midst