LINGUISTIC MECHANISMS OF STEREOTYPE CONSTRUCTION IN CONTEMPORAR Y ENGLISH PRESS: A LEXICO-STYLISTIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

The paper investigates the lexico-stylistic mechanisms underlying stereotype construction and framing in contemporary English-language quality press. Operating across critical discourse analysis, cognitive linguistics, and media stylistics, the study explores stereotypes as socio-cognitive constructs grounded in categorization and emotional evaluation. The empirical material comprises 18 articles (2006 – 2026) from The Guardian (UK), The New York Times (USA), and The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia). Utilizing Qualitative Discourse Analysis, Componential Semantic Analysis, and Quantitative Tracking across 166 units, the research examines how stylistic choices influence perception. Quantitative findings show that evaluative lexis forms the primary mechanism of stereotypic framing (30.1%), followed by conceptual metaphors (18.1%) and echoic mentions (13.3%). Cross-cultural comparative analysis reveals distinct national strategies: British media prioritizes class critique and irony; the American press emphasizes human-interest narratives; and Australian journalism focuses on post-colonial accountability and satire. Ultimately, quality press constructs stereotypes via sophisticated stylistic layering rather than explicit bias. The findings advance media linguistics and offer practical applications for higher education pedagogy.