Discourse Analysis: A Comprehensive Overview, Diapositivas de Literatura inglesa

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Discourse Analysis

Material

The primary function of a

linguistic sign is to express

and convey meaning , and

ultimately to communicate.

From this perspective, linguistic

semiotics can be defined as an

area of study that is concerned

specifically with the meaning of

the linguistic sign.

The dyadic model The general understanding of words is that they are names and signs of things. However, for Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure, whose research denies such a simple view, a word doesn’t represent the thing itself, but the concept behind the thing: “The linguistic sign unites, not a thing and a name, but a concept and a sound-image” (Saussure, 1985, p. 101).

The triadic model

Unlike Saussure, Peirce sees a sign as a complex of three components. That is to say, a sign is composed of three related elements—medium (M), object (O), and interpretant (I)—representing respectively form, reference, and explanation, which together compose a “trinity”

The semantic trapezoid and the semantic quadrangle

The two theories are more or less the same in that both are based on the theory of the semiotic triangle, and both add a fourth angle—the angle of meaning. From thing to sign counterclockwise, they can be interpreted as implying: the thing is the basis of conceptualization → meaning reveals the nature of the concept → the sign is the carrier of meaning, while from sign to thing clockwise: the sign expresses meaning → an important feature of meaning is generalization, and it must be associated with the concept → the concept represents the thing.

Activity 3 and 4:

● Make 4 teams

● Choose a topic, look up more information and explain it to the class.

What is Discourse?

Discourse is not just language. It’s the way we use language to communicate with each other in social situations. It is a way to share our thoughts and ideas, build relationships, establish culture, influence others, and create meaning in our world.

Discourse analysis provides a lens through which we can view the many functions of language. This includes shaping prevailing power structures, constructing societal narratives, influencing our everyday dialogues, molding opinions, and more.

What is Discourse Analysis?

Discourse analysis (DA) explores the structure and expression of language within its social and cultural context. It looks at the linguistic content (what's said) and language use (how it's used) in a given text to convey meaning in different social settings.

So, discourse analysts explore how relationships between people can shape the language they use. And also how language presents different perspectives and understandings of the world, helping us understand how it can help create and maintain social reality, power relations, and even our own identities.

Key Concepts of Discourse Analysis

Some of the core concepts in discourse analysis include:

Context: Discourse analysts are interested in how the context of a communicative event affects the meaning of the language used. For example, the meaning of "home" will differ depending on whether it is spoken to a family member, a friend, or a stranger. Power: Discourse analysts also examine how power relations are reflected in language use. For example, how a manager speaks to an employee will likely differ from how the employee speaks to the manager. Identity: Discourse can also be used to construct and maintain different identities. For example, how a politician speaks in a campaign speech tends to differ from how they speak to their constituents in a private meeting.

Narrative Analysis

Narrative analysis is the study of how stories are told and how they shape our understanding of the world. Narrative analysts are interested in story structure , content , and function. They may also be interested in how stories are told in different social contexts and how they are used to construct and maintain social identities and power relations. For example, you might study how the story of Christopher Columbus is told in different cultures and how it shapes people's understanding of heroism.

Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA)

Critical discourse analysis focuses on the relationship between

language and power. CDA researchers are interested in how

language is used to construct and maintain social

inequalities. They may also be interested in how language

can be used to challenge and resist social oppression.

You might study how politicians use language to construct and

maintain social divisions in a campaign speech. Think “us vs.

them” or “haves vs. have-nots.”

Foucauldian Discourse Analysis

Foucauldian discourse analysis is a type of CDA based on Michel

Foucault's theories. Foucault argued that discourse is not simply a

tool for communication but that it also plays a role in shaping our

knowledge and understanding of the world. Foucauldian

discourse analysts are interested in how discourse is used to

construct and maintain social norms and power relations.

If you’re a Foucauldian discourse analyst, you might study how

medical discourse constructs and maintains the power of doctors

over patients.

Ethnography of Communication

Ethnography of communication is a research approach that

combines ethnography and discourse analysis methods.

Ethnographers of communication study how language is used in

different cultural and social contexts. They may be interested in

how language is used to construct and maintain relationships,

negotiate social meaning, and perform social identities.

An ethnographer of communication might study how people use

language to build relationships and negotiate social meaning in a

workplace setting.

Pragmatics

Pragmatics is the study of how language is used in context. Pragmatists are interested in how we use language to convey meaning beyond the literal meaning of the words we use.

They may be interested in the role of factors such as intonation,

body language, and shared knowledge in communication.

A pragmatist might study how speakers use intonation and body language like eye-rolling to convey sarcasm or politeness.