Critical Discourse Analysis

From Geography

Definition

Critical discourse analysis (often abbrieviated to CDA) provides theories and methods for the empirical study of the relations between discourse and social and cultural developments in various social domains (Jorgensen & Phillips, 2002). As the defintion says, CDA is both a method and a set of theories (movements). Norman Fairclough has developed the CDA as an approach. But, the CDA is also a movement within discourse analysis of which several approaches are part (Jorgensen & Phillips, 2002).

Critical Discourse Analysis as a movement

The CDA movement is a quite broad movement. It consists of several approaches. There is no agreement about who belongs to this movement. But there are some key elements which are shared by all the approaches:

*The character of social and cultural processes and structures is partly linguistic-discursive

The goal of CDA is to analyze the linguistic-discursive aspect of social and cultural phenomena and processes of change. Discursive practices can be seen as an important part of social practice. They are practices through which texts are created and received and interpreted. They contribute to the development of the social world, social identities and social relations. Discursive practices are partly responsible for social and cultural reproduction and change.

*Discourse is both constitutive and constituted

Regarding critical discourse analysts a discourse can be seen as a form of social practice. The discourse both creates the social world. But at the same time it is created by other social practices. As social practice it has a cross relationship with other social dimensions. It does not just contribute to the shaping and reshaping of social structures but also reflects them. In CDA, language-as-discourse is a form of action. With this action people can change the world. Next to this, it is also a form of action which is socially and historically situated and in a cross relationship with other aspects of the social.

* Language use should be empirically analyze within its context

Critical discourse analysis is involved in concrete, linguistic textual analysis of language which is used in social interaction.

* Discourse Functions Ideologically

CDA claims that discursive practices are part of the creation and reproduction of unequal power relations between groups of people. CDA tries to uncover the role of the discursive practice in particular those social relations which involve unequal relations of power. It aims at more equal power relations in communication processes and society in general.

* Critical Research

CDA is not politically neutral. CDA takes the side of oppressed groups of people. As written before, it tries to uncover the role of discursive practice in order to balance power relations in order to create social changes.