1 “This is an Author’s original Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Australian Journal of Linguistics on 10/12/2014, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07268602.2015.976901#.VlM MrGQvcy4” TITLE: Who said ‘abortion’? Semantic variation and ideology in Spanish newspapers’ online discussions. AUTHOR: Andrea Pizarro Pedraza (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas) Abstract In this paper, we defend the study of semantic variation from a Cognitive Sociolinguistics perspective. Through a case study on the semantic variation of ‘abortion’ in Spanish newspapers’ comments, we investigate quantitatively the influence of the independent factors (‘source’, ‘date’, ‘ideology’, ‘gender’, ‘quote’) on conceptual onomasiological variation. The chi-square tests show that ‘ideology’ and ‘quote’ affect significantly the preference for direct (to abort) or indirect expressions (to murder) and for particular conceptual bases (e.g. DEATH/TO KILL, NOT HAVE A BABY, TRIP TO LONDON…), pointing to two different conceptualizations of ‘abortion’ for defenders and detractors. By demonstrating the entrenchment of particular construals in their established discourses, we exemplify the indexical power of semantic variation. KEYWORDS: Cognitive Sociolinguistics; Onomasiological Variation; Ideology; Abortion. 1. Introduction In 2010, a new Law of Abortion was approved in Spain by the Socialist Party in the government (PSOE). With the approval, the debate on abortion