Analyzing Linguistic Features in Selected Newspaper Headlines Related to Brexit

Abstract

The language employed in the realm of media, particularly in headlines, exhibits a diverse array of linguistic characteristics. This is due to the newspaper reporters' endeavor to convey more than what is written by utilizing certain linguistic elements. The issue at hand is predicated on the notion that the majority of newspapers utilize linguistic features that define their writing style. Moreover, these linguistic features engender ambiguity and complexity in comprehending and interpreting the core meaning of the headlines. The present study contributes to our comprehension of the variation in media language, the stylistic components in newspaper writing, the challenges in interpretation, the strategies employed in audience communication, the application of analytical models, and the underlying motives behind linguistic choices.  The primary objective of this study is to analyze a selection of political headlines from English newspapers. It aims to demonstrate how newspaper writers communicate with the audience through the headlines, both explicitly and implicitly. The linguistic analysis of English political headlines in this study is focused on a renowned newspaper known as TIME. Four models, namely Westley's (1959), Abbott's (1981), Pehar's (2001), and Garst and Bernstein's (1961) are employed to analyze (30) selected headlines related to Brexit. The study concludes that linguistic features are deliberately and creatively utilized for various purposes, such as capturing the reader's attention, employing aesthetic language, and presenting vivid news, among others.