Lexical Ambiguity in English Media Discourse: A Semantic and Contextual Analysis

Abstract

This research investigates lexical ambiguity in English from both theoretical and applied perspectives, with special emphasis on media discourse and everyday communication. The study aims to (1) identify the main types of lexical ambiguity in modern English usage, (2) explore how contextual factors influence meaning interpretation, and (3) analyze how ambiguity is used rhetorically in media language. The results show that ambiguity is not merely a linguistic challenge but also a stylistic and communicative strategy, especially in media headlines and social media discourse. The findings highlight the dynamic interaction between semantics and context, contributing to more effective communication and deeper linguistic understanding.