DYNAMICS OF LINGUISTIC REPRESENTATION OF UKRAINIAN REFUGEES IN BRITISH MEDIA (2022–2024): A CORPUS-BASED ANALYSIS

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the study of the linguistic representation of Ukrainian refugees in British media based on a corpus analysis of news texts. The study covers the period from 2022 to 2024 and is based on a corpus of 206 articles published in the British media The Guardian and The Independent. The total corpus size is 175,794 lexical units (200,222 tokens). The analysis was conducted using Sketch Engine and Word Smith 9.0. A total of 124 key words were identified and grouped into lexico-semantic fields, including names of refugee actions (28.2%), names of people (20.1%), geographical names (14.5%), acts of assistance (12.9%), causes of displacement (12.1%), refugee conditions (7.3%), and abstract concepts (5.6%). The dynamics of key word collocations revealed a shift in media discourse emphasis: in 2022, the primary focus was on the scale of the crisis (the biggest crisis, enormous generosity), whereas in 2023–2024, the attention shifted to long-term challenges (longer-term support, equal opportunities). Notable changes in the perception of refugees were identified: in 2022, they were primarily seen as victims in need of urgent assistance, while in 2024, there was increased attention to their contribution to society and expressions of gratitude for support (grateful, appreciate). Additionally, in 2023–2024, the frequency of collocations related to the threats of exploitation increased. The study confirms that corpus analysis is an effective tool for examining changes in the linguistic representation of socially significant events. It enables not only the identification of key words and their collocations but also tracking their usage dynamics. Overall, the research demonstrates how British media adapted their rhetoric regarding Ukrainian refugees in response to social and political changes, shifting the focus towards integration and long-term support.