Volume 4,Issue 1
Comparative Study on the Discourse System of "Chinese Image" Construction from the Perspective of Western Media--Based on media discourse around January 2025
This study investigates the discursive construction of China's image in Western media from a critical discourse analysis perspective, with a particular focus on linguistic shifts before and after Donald Trump's assumption of the U.S. presidency in January 2025. Drawing on Fairclough's three-dimensional model, the research examines China-related reports from mainstream Western outlets—including CNN, BBC, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal—spanning from 2015 to 2025. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis of lexical choices, syntactic patterns, and discourse strategies, the study identifies significant post-inauguration transformations: increased use of neutral and positive vocabulary, a preference for concise and declarative sentence structures, reduced reliance on stigmatizing labels, and greater diversity and authority in information sourcing. These changes reflect an emerging recalibration in Western media's representational practices, driven by a confluence of internal linguistic dynamics—such as language adaptability and normative accuracy—and external pressures, including economic interests, shifts in U.S. foreign policy, and heightened international scrutiny of media bias. Despite this apparent discursive moderation, the study cautions that deep-seated ideological filters and geopolitical contingencies continue to pose long-term challenges to balanced reporting. By elucidating the linguistic mechanisms and socio-political drivers underlying shifts in Western media discourse, this research offers theoretical insights into the interplay of language, power, and ideology in international news production. It also provides actionable implications for enhancing China's global communication strategies, including the optimization of discursive framing, real-time media monitoring via AI-driven tools, and the cultivation of culturally attuned international communication professionals.
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