Discourse Analysis

Question 1

Describe discourse analysis

Answer 1

• Approach where language is not regarded as reflecting internal thoughts; language is the object of study
• Language isn’t just a way of expressing thoughts; its how we make sense of construct objects
• Language is not a way of conveying knowledge
• Language is how we construct objects in the world
• Language is not separate from our thoughts
• Language is how we have thoughts

Question 2

Discourse analysis method

Answer 2

• Which form of discourse will you study?
• How are various groups portrayed in the text? How are they talked about?
• Who benefits from this discourse? Who is exerting power over who? Which group is being empowered/disempowered?
• How do they do it? Which bits of discourse are being used to reinforce those people?

Question 3

What are subject positions

Answer 3

Typically includes:

• Author (whose text is it)
• Audience (who is it aimed at)
• Character (who is spoken to, who is spoken about, who is empowered/disempowered)