Critical Discourse Analysis

Question 1

What is critical discourse analysis?

Answer 1

An approach which reveals the hidden details that link to a wider social and cultural controversial discussion of politics, society, economical issues and discrimination against race, identity and gender. This approach questions why a discourse is used in a certain way and what it may imply.

Question 2

The role of critical analysis:

Answer 2

Is to explore issues such as gender, ideology and identity and how these are presented in certain texts.

Question 3

The role of analysing the discourse:

Answer 3

Is to move from identifying the issue then to an explanation and an interpretation of the discourse.

Question 4

The possible outcome of the analysis:

Answer 4

The analysis could deconstruct and challenge the texts, tracing ideologies and assumptions underlying the use of discourse and relating these to different views of the world, experiences and beliefs.

Question 5

Fairclough and Wodak (1997) Principle of critical discourse analysis:

Answer 5

• Social and political issues are constructed and reflected in discourse.
• Power relations are negotiated and performed through discourse.
• Discourse both reflects and reproduces social relations.
• Ideologies are produced and reflected in the use of discourse.