. Lingua-Pragmatic Features of the Tabloidization Process in English and Uzbek Media Discourse Headlines

The systematic study of media linguistics and media discourse has become one of the leading areas of contemporary linguistic research. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to media headlines due to their crucial role in attracting readers and shaping public perception. In this regard, the phenomenon of tabloidization, which refers to the adoption of sensationalist features characteristic of tabloid journalism, has emerged as an important subject of linguopragmatic investigation. The present study focuses on identifying the linguistic means through which tabloidization is realized in English and Uzbek media headlines and examining the pragmatic intentions behind their use.
The aim of the research is to conduct a comparative analysis of the linguopragmatic characteristics of tabloidization in English and Uzbek media discourse headlines. The study seeks to identify the manifestations of tabloidization in print and online media, classify the stylistic and lexical devices employed in headlines, and explain the pragmatic strategies used to attract readers’ attention and influence audience perception. Particular attention is paid to such devices as hyperbole, metaphor, alliteration, and elliptical constructions.                                                                                    To achieve these objectives, componential analysis, descriptive analysis, comparativecontrastive analysis, discourse analysis, and pragmatic analysis were employed. The findings reveal that tabloidization in both English and Uzbek media primarily serves to capture readers’ attention and stimulate curiosity. However, the mechanisms through which these functions are realized demonstrate notable linguopragmatic differences. The study also confirms that contemporary digital media increasingly combines elements of quality journalism with tabloid techniques, while the creation of curiosity gaps functions as an effective strategy within the attention economy.
Overall, the comparative investigation of tabloidization in English and Uzbek media headlines contributes to a deeper understanding of their lexical, stylistic, structural, and pragmatic features and highlights the similarities and differences in audience-oriented communication strategies across the two linguistic and cultural contexts.