Language and War: A Lexical Analysis of News Reporting of the Russian-Ukraine Conflict in Digital News Media

The relationship between language and war is intricate and intertwined. Language is an important factor in how disputes are portrayed and remembered. It can be used to both encourage peace and incite violence. It also shapes political struggles and identities. Additionally, it is employed to diminish the opposing party, which facilitates the defense of atrocities and violence. The propagation of false information and inciting language can increase current stresses and aid in the outbreak and growing severity of conflicts. Additionally, manipulative language is employed to generate support for war, alter public opinion and influence decisions. This study examines the representation of the word "war" and its collocates in a number of online digital news outlets, reporting about the Russian-Ukraine conflict. It investigates the ideological framing, discursive techniques, and linguistic patterns connected to the term "war." The Study applies Fairclough’s “Lexicalization Framework” in CDA in order to conduct “lexical analysis” to the selected lexemes. It also attempts to apply Lakoff’s “Framing Theory “and Allan & Burridge’s “Theory of Euphemism & Dysphemism” to the news reports in question so as to further illuminate the portrayal of responsibility, victimhood, and international response. The study finally shows how language affects the general public views of war and sheds light on its social as well as its political sequels.