THE ROLE OF ANGLICISMS IN CREATING AMBIGUITY AND HUMOR IN HEADLINES

Abstract

Every language is a self-enclosed and whole universe—a product of centuries of cultural activities, expressions, and emotions. Therefore, the choice of words in language is closely related to the construction of perceptions in a society. It is not a surprise that the appropriation of foreign or loanwords has been a topic of concern since the modern era. In modern communication practices, headlines are a widely read and heard form that encourages readers to think about what kind of events they will encounter. Accordingly, the objective of this essay is to investigate how the employment of Anglicisms in a headline creates ambiguity and humor in headlines. We suggest that Anglicisms can lead readers to perceive or interpret a headline in a humorous way rather than in a desperate interpretation. In other words, it is serious unfairness and humorous misunderstanding caused by the serious unfairness that draws attention from today.