Discourse as a social practice

Discourse Analysis
Critical Discourse Analysis
Critical Discourse Studies
Critical Discourse Analysis vs. Discourse
Studies or Critical Discourse Studies
I avoid the term CDA because it
suggests that it is a method of
discourse analysis, and not a critical
perspective or attitude in the field of
discourse studies (DS) using many
different methods of humanities and
social sciences. (van Dijk 2016:63)
• Basic characteristics  of  discourse
• it is  fixed  in text;
• it has a cognitive foundation;
• it is ideologically marked;
• it is culturally motivated which  are 
fundamental  for  the   analysis of any type
(genre) of discourse
 Ideology
Not only social practices or discourses are
ideological, but that ideologies are produced
by them. (van Dijk, 1998:3)
The world needs today and will need tomorrow
international bodies with the authority and the will to
stop the spread оf terror and chemical and
biological and nuclear weapons. А threat to аll must
bе answered bу all. High-minded pronouncements
against proliferation mеаn little unless the strongest
nations are willing to stand behind them and use
force if necessary. After аll, the United Nations was
created, as Winston Churchill said, to "make sure
that the force оf right will, in the ultimate issue, bе
protected bу the right оf force." (George W. Bush
American Enterprise Institute (The Future of Iraq)
Washington, DC February 26, 2003)
The only way to protect our people,
the only way to secure the peace,
the only way to control our destiny
is by our leadership-so the United
States of America will continue to
lead (George W Bush State of the
Union Address, Washington.DC,31
January,2006)
In America, the people govern, the people rule, and the
people are sovereign. I was elected not to take power, but
to give power to the American people where it belongs. In
foreign affairs, we are renewing this founding principle of
sovereignty. Our government's first duty is to its people, to
our citizens, to serve their needs, to ensure their safety, to
preserve their rights, and to defend their values. As
president of the United States, I will always put America
first. Just like you, as the leaders of your countries, will
always and should always put your countries first
(President Donald Trump speech to the UN General
Assembly, 19 September, 2017)
 Here's my point, Virginia. That's how this thing
started. It shows you what one voice can do.
That one voice can change a room. And if a
voice can change a room, it can change a city,
and if it can change a city, it can change a state,
and if it can change a state, it can change a
nation, and if it can change a nation, it can
change the world (B .Obama, Manassas, Prince
William County, Virginia, November 3, 2008).
 Power
As one of the pillars of discourse
the concept power gains value
thanks to the ideological
processes (both traditional and
untraditional because even the
lack of ideology is also ideology)
around it.
T.van Dijk explains power as follow (Dijk,
1998: 162):
Power is a specific type of social relation
between groups.
Language is not powerful on its own, it
gains power by the use of powerful people
(Wodak 2009: 35)
 The classification of the state power and the
power of people or society reflects very important
ideological differences:
From state power to people power. From
unchecked individualism to national unity and
purpose. From big government to the big society.
(David Cameron `s speech to Tory Conference,
Birmingham, 6 October 2010)
 References
Dijk Teun A. van 1998 Ideology. An Interdisciplinary approach. London: Sage
Publications
Dijk Teun A. van 2001 Critical Discourse Analysis. In: A Handbook of Discourse
Analysis. Oxford: Blackwell, p. 352-371
Dijk Teun A. van 2016 Critical Discourse Studies: a sociocognitive approach, In. Ruth
Wodak and Michael Meyer (ed.), Methods of Critical Discourse Studies, 3rd Edition,
London: Sage Publications, p.p.62-85
Fairclough Norman, Wodak Ruth 1997 Critical discourse analysis. In: van Dijk Teun A.
(ed.) Discourse studies. A multidisciplinary introduction. Vol. 2. Discourse as social
interaction. London: Sage Publications, p. 258-284.
Fairclough Norman 2001 Language and power. Second Edition. London:Longman
Wodak Ruth 2009 The Discourse of Politics in Action. Politics as Usual. London:
Palgrave Macmillan
References