A Corpus-Based Analysis of Low-Carbon Image Construction in Chinese Commercial Banks

Abstract

As global attention to sustainable development and environmental protection increases, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a crucial measure of corporate image and competitiveness. This study constructs a corpus of CSR reports from China's four major banks (ICBC, Bank of China, China Construction Bank and Agricultural Bank of China) and uses discourse analysis to explore how these banks convey low-carbon concepts through their CSR reports.

First, the study outlines the background and purpose of the CSR reports, emphasizing the banks' roles in promoting low-carbon development amidst global climate change and China's dual-carbon strategy. Discourse analysis reveals how high-frequency words, clusters and key phrases in the reports contribute to building a responsible corporate image. The language strategies in the reports highlight the banks' commitment to environmental responsibility and their efforts in promoting green finance and supporting sustainable projects, illustrating the low-carbon image they aim to construct.

Additionally, the analysis examines the different discourse strategies and attitudes of each bank, showing how they shape their low-carbon image and influence national policies and public perception. This study provides new insights into the role of China's banking sector in advancing social and environmental sustainability and offers CSR communication strategies for other enterprises.

The thesis is organized into five sections. The first section introduces the study's background, purpose, significance and structure. The second section reviews the literature on low-carbon images, image construction, corpus research and discourse analysis. The third section presents the theoretical framework, data sources and the significance of corpus linguistics. The fourth section analyzes high-frequency words, clusters and key phrases in the CSR reports of China's four major banks, focusing on low-carbon-related discourse. The fifth section concludes the study.