Discourse Analysis Flashcards
Discourse
Foucault: practices that systematically form the objects of which they speak
Discourse analysis
research on how meanings and realities are constructed through discourse
understanding how knowledge is constructed
reading between the lines
1. approach, perspective
2. verstehen
Content analysis
objective, systematic and quantitative description of manifest contentsof communication
quantification of words, concepts, category, objects
1. coding
2. thematic analysis
Critical discourse analysis
textual (discourse) analysis related to broader societal, economic, and political processes
aim: unpack how these are expressed, sustained and challenged
Tasks
Critical discourse analysis
- Look beyond manifest content
- Beyond collecting stories and data telling
- Surpass purely detailing the use of linguistic means
- Attend to intertextuality
- Get beyond commentaries
- Importance of credible analysis
4 approaches
critical discourse analysis
- form/production/consumption
- content
- discourse strategies
- functions and performativity
Difficulties
Critical discourse analysis
- critique of commentary - impression based
- where do we start
1) form/production/consumption
- nature of the text
- technical and style related aspects
- production of the text
- consumption of the text, power relations
2) content
- structure/logic of the argument
- conventions and rules
- vocabulary
- expectations, symbols, metaphors, comparisons
- political arguments: naturalising dynamics, premises, contradictions
- values: why is a situation problematic
- conclusions drawn and implicit
3) discourse strategies
- over-lexicalisation - the excessive use of synonyms to describe a single concept or idea
- over-compensating - ideological tensions
- structural oppositions - neutral vs. biased
- quoting verbs - indicates a sphere, credibility
- personalisation impersonalisation - legitimacy
- disclaimers - realisation of socially undesirable view
4) functions and performativity
- request or order?
- how does the text look at the problem?
- assign blame or identify cause?
- justify an intervention or policy?
- influence opinions / exclude people?
- claim credibility or authority?
analysing images
5 dimensions
manifest and latent contents what do we see in the image? description and interpretation
format how are these contents presented in the image? lighting, framing, colours
context background information, reality
image production who, when, power relations, as object
image consumption how is the image use, by whom, impact power relations
