"The Migration of Specialized Terminology into Media Discourse: An Analytical Study of Usage, Semantics, and Impact"

Document Type : Original Article

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Faculity of Al-Alsun, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

This research examines the migration of specialized scientific and legal terms into media discourse, focusing on the semantic transformations and their impact on public awareness. The study employs a mixed-method approach, combining discourse, sociolinguistic, and semantic analysis. It aims to understand the mechanisms of this migration and its effect on public understanding, using the Arabic media's coverage of the Gaza War (October 2023 – July 2025) as a case study.
The findings indicate that specialized terms are widely used in the media but undergo significant semantic shifts. This phenomenon, while seemingly promoting scientific culture, creates serious cognitive and linguistic issues. The study highlights a conflict between the precise, institutional nature of scientific terms and their media usage for simplification and rhetorical effect, which erodes accuracy and distorts knowledge.
The analysis shows that in conflict reporting, termُs are used metaphorically and symbolically to politicize language and frame public consciousness. The study identifies polarizing repetition and emotional encoding as key mechanisms for distorting political and legal terms. The research concludes with recommendations for mitigating these negative effects, such as requiring media outlets to provide contextual definitions, developing visual "term cards" for clarity, and promoting critical media literacy to help the public differentiate between accurate and propagandistic use of terminology.

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