Defining Discourse

What is Discourse? Consider the following definitions of discourse: Discourse is language above the sentence or above the clause (Stubbs, 1983). How we organize language into units that are larger than sentences (Schiffrin, 1994).

B: No, sorry. I don’t smoke. 3. Brown & Yule (1983:1): ‘the analysis of discourse, is necessarily, the analysis of language in use. As such, it cannot be restricted to the description of linguistic forms independent of the purposes or functions which these forms are designed to serve in human affairs.’ A: Have you got a light? B: Yes. B: No, sorry. I don’t smoke.

5. Discourse involves ways of representing aspects of the world (Fairclough, 2003), as a particular representation of social reality (Amer, 2008). That is, it involves well-established meanings or ideas around a topic that shape how we can talk about it, e.g. Islamist discourse, nationalist discourse, secularist discourse, feminist discourse, etc.

The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine has been an Islamic Waqf throughout the generations and until the Day of Resurrection, no one can renounce it or part of it, or abandon it or part of it. The Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine is an Individual Obligation. When our enemies usurp some Islamic lands, Jihad becomes a duty binding on all Muslims. In order to face the usurpation of Palestine by the Jews, we have no escape from raising the banner of Jihad.

Greetings to all of you from the sons of our hero people – men and women – and from the masses of our blessed uprising ...of confronting the occupation, oppression, injustice and the bestial crimes which the Israeli occupiers are committing against them daily ... Greetings to you from the stone-throwing children, who are challenging the occupation and its aircraft, tanks and weaponry, recalling the new image of the defenceless Palestinian David opposing the heavily-armed Israeli Goliath.

Language above the level of a sentence What is Discourse? So discourse can be defined as: Language above the level of a sentence Language use linked to social practices and participants, as a form of social practice, as a particular representation of social reality.

What is Text Text refers to any stretch of language (either in speech or in writing) of whatever length that forms a whole unit (Essays, notices, a single proverb, a cry for help, etc.) It is a unit of language in use. It is a physical product of a communicative act, i.e. the record of some speaker’s or writer’s discourse, uttered or written in some context and for some purpose. Text can be extended to include other non-linguistic and semiotic forms such as pictures, music, road signs, graphic designs, etc.

Spoken vs. written Discourse Evanescent (rapid fading) Difference in tempo (faster) Spontaneous Rich in prosody More ‘natural’ Situated (co-constructed, interaction) Permanent & transportable Difference in tempo (slower) Worked over, planned Poor in prosody Less ‘natural’ De-situated

Discourse Analysis The analysis of discourse is the analysis of language in use. As such, it cannot be restricted to the description of linguistic forms without looking at the purposes or functions which these forms are designed to serve in human affairs (Brown & Yule, 1993). Father: Is that your coat on the floor again? Son: yes (goes on reading)

Discourse Analysis We engage in discourse analysis all the time when we try to figure out what people mean by what they say, and when we express our multiple and complicated meanings to them.

What do we do in Discourse Analysis? We are interested in the relationship between texts and the context. Conversational interaction is observed (turn-taking, repair, how to begin and end a conversation, etc.) How different speech acts (e.g. politeness) are performed. Cohesion Coherence The cooperative Principle

Influences on discourse analysis psycholinguistics sociolinguistics other non-linguistic disciplines other linguistic disciplines Discourse Analysis computational linguistics pragmatics

Why is Discourse Analysis important? To understand our social worlds and their complexity. To understand the implications of certain meanings and world views. To understand ourselves within our social worlds.

Approaches to Discourse Analysis Critical Discourse Analysis Conversation Pragmatics Genre Ethnography Of Speaking Speech Acts Theory Multimodal Discourse Analysis

Read Chapter 2 of your textbook What’s Next? Speech Acts Theory Read Chapter 2 of your textbook

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