NEOLOGISMS AND MORPHOLOGICAL INNOVATION IN MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE IRAN–USA CONFLICT

Abstract

This study aims to observe neologisms and morphological innovation in media coverage of the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. It mainly focuses on how newly created lexical forms help in political and ideological representation in current media discourse. Media normally produces new words, mix languages and adapted words from other languages to describe ongoing events and influence public perception especially in political crises and political pressure. The main purpose of this study is to identify the types of neologism that have been created in the media coverage of the conflict between Iran and the USA. This research employed a qualitative approach to analyze morphological innovations and media discourse. It collected data from internationally recognized media platforms namely, BBC News, Al Jazeera, Reuters, and The Guardian. The current study examines news headlines, online media content and published articles related to the conflict that contain newly invented lexical forms. The research bases its analysis on word-formation processes that include compounding, blending, clipping, derivation, acronym and semantic change. The findings of this study reveal that lexical forms that are produced as the result of Iran-U.S. conflict function not only as morphological innovation but also these neologisms serve as discursive instruments that frame diplomatic relations, international negotiations, regional conflicts, and diplomacy. The study is significant because it contributes to the fields of Morphology, and Media Discourse to show the relationship between word formation and ideological representation in contemporary media coverage.