Power, Politics, and

Discourse: Exploring Society

with van Dijk

Presented by Kyrylo Kuchynskyi

Understanding CDS

● CDS is an interdisciplinary approach that examines how language is used to

construct and maintain power relations in society.
● It focuses on the ways that discourse (written or spoken language) can be used
to represent, reproduce, and challenge social inequalities.
● Van Dijk's approach to CDS is characterized by its emphasis on the social and
cognitive dimensions of discourse.
● He argues that we need to understand both the linguistic structures of
discourse and the social context in which it is produced and used.
Sociocognitive approach

Van Dijk emphasizes the role of social cognition in shaping and understanding
discourse. He argues that language use is not simply a matter of expressing
pre-existing thoughts, but rather an active process of meaning-making that is
influenced by social structures, power relations, and individual cognitive abilities.
Multimodality

Van Dijk recognizes that discourse is not limited to spoken or written language, but
also includes other modes of communication such as images, sounds, and gestures.
He developed a framework for analyzing multimodal discourse, which has been
influential in the field.
Discourse and power

Van Dijk's work focuses on how discourse is used to construct, reproduce, and
challenge power relations. He analyzes how powerful groups and institutions use
language to maintain their dominance, and how marginalized groups can resist this
domination through counter-discourse.
Van Dijk's Key Contributions: part 1

● He developed a sociocognitive approach to CDS, which emphasizes the role of

mental processes in the production and interpretation of discourse.
● This approach highlights the importance of factors such as knowledge, beliefs,
and attitudes in shaping the way we use language.
● Van Dijk has written extensively on the relationship between discourse and
power. He argues that discourse is not simply a neutral means of
communication, but rather a tool that can be used to maintain or challenge
existing power relations.
Van Dijk's Key Contributions: part 2

● He has also explored the ways in which discourse can be used to reproduce and
legitimize social inequalities. This includes his work on racism, sexism, and other
forms of discrimination.
● Van Dijk has developed a number of methodological tools for analyzing
discourse, such as the critical square and the discourse analysis matrix. These
tools help researchers to identify the ways in which power relations are
inscribed in discourse.
Van Dijk's Key Contributions: part 3

● Developed a three-level model of discourse analysis: This model examines

discourse at the micro level (text and talk), the meso level (discourse genres and
styles), and the macro level (social structures and ideologies).
● Introduced the concept of "discursive strategies": These are the ways in which
language is used to achieve certain goals, such as persuading, informing, or
entertaining.
● Emphasized the importance of context in discourse analysis: He argues that
discourse can only be understood in its social, political, and historical context.
Van Dijk's work has had a major impact on the
field of CDS, and his ideas have been applied to a
wide range of topics, including:
● Politics: How politicians use language to gain power and influence public
opinion.
● Media: How news media represent different social groups and events.
● Education: How language is used in classrooms to construct knowledge and
identities.
● Law: How language is used in legal proceedings to construct guilt and
innocence.
Van Dijk's work on language, politics, and society

● Racism and discrimination: He has analyzed how racist discourse is used to

justify and legitimize discrimination against marginalized groups.
● News media: He has examined how news media discourse shapes public opinion
and understanding of current events.
● Political discourse: He has analyzed how political discourse is used to construct
and maintain political power.
● Globalization: He has explored the role of discourse in shaping global power
relations and cultural identities.
Impact of Van Dijk's Work

● Van Dijk's work has had a major impact on the field of CDS, and he is considered
to be one of its leading figures.
● His work has been translated into many languages and has been used by
researchers around the world to study a wide range of social and political
issues.
● His ideas have also been influential in other fields, such as media studies,
communication studies, and sociology.
Summary

Overall, Teun van Dijk's work has made a significant contribution to our
understanding of the complex relationship between language, power, and society.
His CDS approach provides a valuable tool for analyzing how discourse is used to
construct and challenge social inequalities.
References

Books:

● van Dijk, T. A. (1988). Discourse and power. Palgrave Macmillan.

● van Dijk, T. A. (2008). Critical discourse studies: A sociocognitive approach. Sage Publications.
● van Dijk, T. A. (2014). Racism and discourse in Europe. Sage Publications.

Websites:

● Centre of Discourse Studies. (n.d.). Discourses - Teun A. van Dijk. https://discourses.org/

● van Dijk, T. A. (2022). Critical Discourse Studies - A sociocognitive approach.
https://discourses.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Teun-A.-van-Dijk-2008-Critical-discourse-studies-a-sociocognitive-approach.pdf
● Project Critical Discourse Studies. (n.d.). Project Critical Discourse Studies. https://discourses.org/project-critical-discourse-studies/

Other:

● van Dijk, T. A. (2015). Critical discourse analysis. (PDF)

https://discourses.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Teun-A.-van-Dijk-2015-Critical-discourse-Analysis.pdf