Framing Conflict through Euphemism and Dysphemism in Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern Media

The Israel-Hamas conflict, claiming around 42,960 lives from October 2023 to September 2024, has received extensive international media attention with varying portrayals. While Western perspectives are widely examined, research on non-Western media remains limited. This study analyzes how Channel N...

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Main Authors: Muhammad Ali Rohmatullah, Agwin Degaf
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: UNIB Press 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Applied Linguistics and Literature
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ejournal.unib.ac.id/joall/article/view/38200
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author Muhammad Ali Rohmatullah
Agwin Degaf
author_facet Muhammad Ali Rohmatullah
Agwin Degaf
author_sort Muhammad Ali Rohmatullah
collection DOAJ
description The Israel-Hamas conflict, claiming around 42,960 lives from October 2023 to September 2024, has received extensive international media attention with varying portrayals. While Western perspectives are widely examined, research on non-Western media remains limited. This study analyzes how Channel News Asia (CNA) in Southeast Asia and The National in the Middle East employ euphemism and dysphemism to frame public perceptions of the conflict. Using Allan and Burridge’s typologies, this qualitative research examines 20 news articles from each outlet between October 2023 and September 2024. Through coding and categorization, it explores how language not only reports events but also shapes national and international discourse. Results reveal a significant difference in rhetorical approach: CNA predominantly uses dysphemisms, particularly to delegitimize Hamas, positioning the group as a threat. to state and represent a very bad thing or condition. In contrast, The National employs more euphemisms to soften portrayals of Palestinian actions and emphasize humanitarian concerns, presenting Palestinians sympathetically and highlighting civilian impact. This strategy suggests alignment with pro-Palestinian narratives, aiming to evoke empathy from readers. This study contributes to media discourse analysis by examining non-Western framing of conflict, illustrating how euphemisms and dysphemisms act as ideological tools in shaping public opinion. Expanding the scope to include non-Western perspectives highlights the role of regional media in influencing global narratives on sensitive geopolitical issues. Future research could apply this framework to similar rhetorical strategies in other conflicts and contexts.
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spelling doaj-art-5db4922d13934ed2ad33beedc6532bca2025-08-20T02:16:55ZengUNIB PressJournal of Applied Linguistics and Literature2502-78162503-524X2025-04-0110110.33369/joall.v10i1.38200Framing Conflict through Euphemism and Dysphemism in Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern MediaMuhammad Ali Rohmatullah0Agwin Degaf1UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim MalangUIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang The Israel-Hamas conflict, claiming around 42,960 lives from October 2023 to September 2024, has received extensive international media attention with varying portrayals. While Western perspectives are widely examined, research on non-Western media remains limited. This study analyzes how Channel News Asia (CNA) in Southeast Asia and The National in the Middle East employ euphemism and dysphemism to frame public perceptions of the conflict. Using Allan and Burridge’s typologies, this qualitative research examines 20 news articles from each outlet between October 2023 and September 2024. Through coding and categorization, it explores how language not only reports events but also shapes national and international discourse. Results reveal a significant difference in rhetorical approach: CNA predominantly uses dysphemisms, particularly to delegitimize Hamas, positioning the group as a threat. to state and represent a very bad thing or condition. In contrast, The National employs more euphemisms to soften portrayals of Palestinian actions and emphasize humanitarian concerns, presenting Palestinians sympathetically and highlighting civilian impact. This strategy suggests alignment with pro-Palestinian narratives, aiming to evoke empathy from readers. This study contributes to media discourse analysis by examining non-Western framing of conflict, illustrating how euphemisms and dysphemisms act as ideological tools in shaping public opinion. Expanding the scope to include non-Western perspectives highlights the role of regional media in influencing global narratives on sensitive geopolitical issues. Future research could apply this framework to similar rhetorical strategies in other conflicts and contexts. https://ejournal.unib.ac.id/joall/article/view/38200EuphemismDysphemismIsrael-Hamas conflictnon-Western media
spellingShingle Muhammad Ali Rohmatullah
Agwin Degaf
Framing Conflict through Euphemism and Dysphemism in Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern Media
Journal of Applied Linguistics and Literature
Euphemism
Dysphemism
Israel-Hamas conflict
non-Western media
title Framing Conflict through Euphemism and Dysphemism in Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern Media
title_full Framing Conflict through Euphemism and Dysphemism in Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern Media
title_fullStr Framing Conflict through Euphemism and Dysphemism in Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern Media
title_full_unstemmed Framing Conflict through Euphemism and Dysphemism in Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern Media
title_short Framing Conflict through Euphemism and Dysphemism in Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern Media
title_sort framing conflict through euphemism and dysphemism in southeast asian and middle eastern media
topic Euphemism
Dysphemism
Israel-Hamas conflict
non-Western media
url https://ejournal.unib.ac.id/joall/article/view/38200
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