Name : Liz Sarah Sumbayak

ACC.No : 1801030120

Subject : Discourse analysis

Lecturer : Asima Rohana Sinaga, S.Pd M.Pd

Soal!

1. What is Discourse Analysis? Explain it clearly! (20)

2. Why do we study Discourse Analysis? (10)

3. In Discourse Analysis questions, There are seven building task of language, explain each them
clearly by showing examples! (30)

4. Explain the terms below clearly: (20)

A. Social languages

B. Discourses

C. Conversation

D. Intertextuality

E. Discourse as ‘Kits”

5. How does the Tools of inquiry apply in Discourse Analysis? (20)

Answer :

1. Discourse analysis is a research method for studying written or spoken language in relation to
its social context. It aims to understand how language is used in real life situations. When you
do discourse analysis, you might focus on: The purposes and effects of different types of
language.

2. The reason why we must study Discourse analysis because, the Discourse analysis aims to
make us understand how language is used in real life situations, and to gain insight, and
awareness of how daily use of discourse (including written, oral, or multimedia discourses) in
public or private spaces like the media or in colloquial conversations affect how we think, see,
sense or percieve; and in turn react or respond to the world around us. This includes how we
percieve and construct ourselves in relation to others or society and social constructs, in all
kinds of situations and circumstances. As language (in its many different forms) is a major tool
of communication through which we interact socially and explore the world and our place in it
forming a social identity that dictates how we may live and our living conditions for the most
part (at least for most of us), discourse analysis gives insight into how minds work and help
understand social behaviour.

This helps me identify and explore alternatives to the general pattern of traditional or popular
mainstream discourse if that seems to be no longer useful, abusive, or flawed (to subvert and
challenge oppressive hegemonic discourses), and be an independent thinker free to forge my
own life on my own terms out of countless new possibilities for being, knowing, and living.

3. Seven building task of language in Discourse analysis question, there are :

based on the following building tasks: significance, practices (activities), Identities,

relationships, politics (the distribution of social goods), connections, and sign systems and
knowledge, and i reading Irshad Manji‘s piece, “A Muslim Reformer on the Mosque” as a
example.

1. Significance

The first task, Significance, asks the question, “how is this piece of language being used to make
certain things significant or not and in what ways? "

Manji immediately makes her view significance by abruptly stating, “the warriors for tolerance
and the antimasque crusaders are both wrong.” The word, “are” hold strong significance,
because it is saying that the other side is wrong, period.

2. Practices

asks the question, “what practice(activity) or practices (activities) is this piece of language being
used to enact (I.e, get others to recognize as going on)? The piece is trying to get people to
recognize the “culture of offense.”

Manji aids them in recognizing this by providing a list of arguments, mainly going into religion,
since this is after all about a mosque being built. She hints to us what the mosque means, and
the unfairness of what the leaders of the mosque will put into practice, for example, will they
segregate women and men?.
3. identities

asks the question, “what identity or identities is this piece of language being used to enact ?
(I.e., get others to recognize as operative)? What identity or identities is this piece of language
attributing to others and how does this help the speaker or writer enact his or her own
identity? Since this is an opinion piece.

Manji clearly claims her identity, she is a “Muslim reformer.” Throughout the article she also
attribute identities to others, mainly the men who would be in charge of the mosque. The fact
that she is a professor, also shows how well written, and informed she is.

4. relationships

answers, “what sort of relationship is this piece of language seeking to enact with others
(present or not)? As this is an op-ed, the writer is first trying to establish a relationship with the
reader.

She wants the reader, whether or not they agree with her, to understand where she is coming
from. One of the many ways she does this is by providing examples of how the mosque will
operate, asking, “May women lead cognitional prayers any day of the week?” She is also
establishing a relationship with the man of Islam.

5. politics

what perspective on social goods is this piece of language communicating?”.

she lists her reasons for thinking that “the warriors for tolerance and the antimasque crusaders
are both wrong,” and she provides examples of how close-minded she thinks the religion can
be, she believes, that “an opportunity exists for something more constructive than anger…
accountability.”

6. connections

Asks how does this piece of language connect or disconnect things; how does it make one thing
relevant or irrelevant to another?” She makes everything relevant to each other, and ties
everything at the end of the article.

7. Sign Systems and Knowledge

the final, asks, “how does this piece of language privilege or disprivilege specific sign systems.

4. A. Social languages
Social language is the simple, informal language we use when talking face to face with family
members and friends. Social language also includes writing emails, friendly letters, and texts or
retelling stories. For some, social language does not come naturally.

B. Discourses

The definition of discourse is a discussion about a topic either in writing or face to face.

C. Conversation

Conversation is interactive communication between two or more people. The development of

conversational skills and etiquette is an important part of socialization. The development of
conversational skills in a new language is a frequent focus of language teaching and learning.

D.Intertextuality

Intertextuality is the shaping of a text's meaning by another text. It is the interconnection

between similar or related works of literature that reflect and influence an audience's
interpretation of the text. Intertextual figures include allusion, quotation, calque, plagiarism,
translation, pastiche and parody.

E. Discourse as ‘Kits”

“A Discourse is a sort of 'identity kit' which comes complete with the appropriate costume and
instructions on how to act, talk, and often write, so to take on a particular role that others will
recognize”

5. the Tools of inquiry apply in Discourse Analysis, The four tools are social languages,
discourses, conversations, and intertextuality.

 The first tool of inquiry is “social languages.” This tool acknowledges that people use
different styles or varieties of language depending on the settings and purposes in order
to recognize different identities and to engage in different building tasks. Thus, social
languages are linguistic varieties that one employs depending on the social identity that
one chooses based on the setting. This tool helps us to recognize different social
identities of each individual depending on different linguistic context.
 The second tool is “Discourses,” which include non-verbal communication elements:
physical appearance, use of symbols, gestures, objects, and even timing. observe and
analyze not only the verbal elements but also the non-verbal elements in a
conversation, and then take a step further to infer to the identity of the speaker. Also,
 while discourse is a conversation or story, the Discourse involves other elements in
addition to linguistic aspects.
 Thirdly, the “Conversations” include all the talks and writings that have been going in a
particular society or a social group with a focus on a specific theme, debate, or motif
that is unsettled or contested. In order to know about the Conversation and to engage,
we should know about not only the issues and different opinions of each side of the
debate but also who is on each side. the analyst should be aware of the relevant
conversation that has been taken place in that particular linguistic society.Only by
answering this, people can engage in the “conversation” knowing the implied message.
 Lastly, the “intertextuality” refers that our words—or “texts—often are related to
“other texts,” namely words that other people have said or written. In order to do this,
the analyst should have all the citations of the original sources or a vast amount of
resource to refer to. Otherwise it would be very difficult and time-consuming to
distinguish the text of the author from the borrowed text, and then find out the original
text of the borrowed ones.

All these four tools facilitates the discourse analysis in a deeper level that otherwise would not
reach.