Ideology and Metaphorical Framing in Media Discourse:
A Critical Discourse Analysis and Cognitive Linguistics Study
Matanat Hajiyeva1 , Elnara Mammadova2* , Zulfiya Aghayeva3
Abstract. This study investigates the formation of ideological constructions in contemporary political media discourse through the integrated framework of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), Cognitive Linguistics, and Conceptual Metaphor Theory. The empirical corpus consists of 150 media texts (approximately 120,000 words) selected from BBC, CNN, Reuters, and official political statements published between 2024 and 2026. The study is based on a mixed-methods approach integrating both qualitative and quantitative analyses. Using Van Dijk’s socio-cognitive model of CDA and Lakoff & Johnson’s Conceptual Metaphor Theory, the analysis identifies systematic ideological polarization in media discourse, in-group/out-group (“us vs. them”) opposition, metaphorical framing strategies, and pragmalinguistic manipulation strategies. Quantitative results indicate statistically significant differences across media platforms in lexical choices, agency structures, and the distribution of emotional vocabulary. The findings demonstrate that media discourse functions not only as a means of information transmission but also as a cognitive-ideological mechanism that shapes public consciousness. The study highlights the persistence of framing strategies in media texts and the mechanisms of ideological reproduction. This approach enables a deeper understanding of media influence in contemporary communication environments and proposes directions for future research, particularly comparative media discourse analysis covering different regions as a priority area.
Keywords: critical discourse analysis, cognitive linguistics, media discourse, conceptual metaphor, ideology, framing