“MANIPULATIVE LANGUAGE IN POLITICAL HEADLINES: A CROSS LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH AND UZBEK MEDIA”

Abstract

This study investigates the use of manipulative language in political newspaper headlines, focusing on a cross-linguistic analysis of English and Uzbek media sources. Political headlines play a crucial role in shaping public opinion,[1] often employing persuasive and manipulative strategies to influence readers’ perceptions. The research aims to identify and compare linguistic techniques such as lexical choice, emotive language, metaphor, and bias in selected English and Uzbek political headlines. Using a qualitative approach within the framework of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA)[2], the study analyzes a corpus of headlines collected from leading online newspapers in both languages. The findings reveal that while both English and Uzbek media utilize similar manipulative strategies, there are notable differences in the intensity, cultural framing, and ideological implications of language use. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of media discourse and highlights the importance of critical reading skills in the digital age.