Linguistic representation of the abortion in the france mass media

Abstract

The article analyzes 52 articles from the leading France press mass media, which discuss the topic of abortion. Among the 152 analyzed statements containing a direct mention of abortion 55 have a clearly positive connotation, 72 have negative one, 25 have neutral one. Statements with positive semantics mainly characterize abortion as an inalienable right of a woman; therefore, many articles are devoted to discussing abortion not in France, but in those countries where it is illegal. Statements with negative semantics characterize abortion as an illegal procedure without touching on the moral and ethical side of the issue. The ethic aspect of the problem, however, is expressed in slogans, which are often used in articles. A positive attitude to the linguocultural phenomenon “abortion” in the French press is mainly expressed in statements with the predicative type of phrases, and both the predicative and adjective phrases are used for expressing a negative attitude.