Publication Details
Abstract
This investigation explores the multifaceted pragmatic functions of humour and irony in journalistic communication. Utilising a comparative framework, it systematically analyses media texts from English and Uzbek sources, adopting a theoretically grounded and methodologically rigorous comparative discourse analysis perspective within the field of contemporary media studies. By integrating diverse analytical models — specifically Gricean pragmatics, speech act theory and relevance theory — the research identifies how these linguistic devices function as strategic tools in contemporary news reporting and digital commentary. This offers a comprehensive interpretative framework for understanding pragmatic variation in journalistic discourse across linguistic and cultural contexts in today's global media environments. The study pays particular attention to the use of pragmatic indicators, the creation of implied meanings, the expression of critical perspectives and the profound impact of cultural heritage on interpretation. It highlights the nuanced interaction between language use, cognition, ideology and sociocultural framing processes in the interpretation of texts. The findings reveal significant contrasts in application: English journalism frequently relies on transparent irony and aggressive satire, whereas Uzbek journalism prefers subtle, indirect comedic forms and culturally specific allegories. This reflects the varying rhetorical strategies shaped by audience engagement norms, institutional communication constraints, and framework conditions. These variations are rooted in different political histories, reader expectations and professional media standards, as well as differences in media ecosystems. This work contributes to a broader understanding of cross-cultural communication by demonstrating how universal linguistic mechanisms adapt to fit unique national identities, with implications for the development of future interdisciplinary research directions.