Tenets Of CDA

Question 1

CDA addresses social problems

Answer 1

CDA can be applied to various social problems such as racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination. It helps to uncover how language is used to construct and maintain these systems of oppression and how discursive practices can either reinforce or challenge them.

Question 2

Power relations are discursive

Answer 2

Language is not a neutral tool for communication; it is intertwined with power dynamics in society.
For example, media representation of certain social groups can perpetuate stereotypes and maintain power imbalances.

Question 3

Discourse does ideological work

Answer 3

Discourses help to normalize certain ideologies by making them appear common sense or accepted. Through repeated language, discourse reinforces dominant ideologies and makes alternative perspectives seem marginal or deviant.

Question 4

Discourse is a form of social action

Answer 4

When people communicate; they are not only exchanging information but also engaging in various forms of social action that have consequences for themselves and others.
For example, people create shared meanings, norms, and values that shape social interactions and institutions