Awareness of Critical Discourse Analysis Underpins Learners’ Sociolinguistic Competence and Language Use

Abstract

As a special approach in discourse analysis, Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) aims to study the discursive conditions and consequences of power abuse practised by dominant groups or institutions (van Dijk, 1995). It contributes to raising awareness of the discursive strategies employed by elite groups in order to control the minds of minor ones. It permits them to free themselves from the compulsions and limitations that deprive them of their right to think critically and have the freedom of choice. In the discipline of language learning, learners' awareness of CDA enables them to read critically and produce language in more logical manner. It is one way to empower them with adequate reading and writing strategies and to enhance their consciousness of using speech acts in meaningful context. This paper analyses a text following the framework of text analysis proposed by Fairclough (1992). The authentic text was selected reflecting one aspect of the British culture that does not have the common agreement of the ruling parties in the British community. It holds significant debate between representatives of the Conservative Party and the Labour Party that was taking over at that time. The analysis shows how the lexical and syntactic connotations reflect the attitudes of each Party and the newspaper publishing this article as well. The paper provides insights into how CDA can enhance learners' sociolinguistic competence and language use.

Images of Women and Politics of Domination in Helen Fields’ “Perfect Remains”

“…CDA is a discipline that questions the status quo, by identifying, analysing, resisting and counteracting portrayals of power abuse as transmitted in private and public discourses (Ghazali, 2017), which thus, explains for the use of CDA in this this study as it focuses on how women are portrayed and how domination towards them is manifested in the text.…”

“…This qualitative study employs CDA where its scope is not language-based since it aimed to discover patterns of reproduction in power asymmetries, which is a common methodology used in fields such anthropology, philosophy and communication (Ghazali, 2017). CDA takes normal discourse as a form of social practice in language that is socially influenced and influential.…”

“…It targets to understand the relationship between language register, power, and ideology (Cots, 2006). The main objective in all the various approaches to critical discourse analysis is that it promotes awareness regarding the strategies used in establishing, maintaining and reproducing symmetrical or asymmetrical relations of power as enacted by means of discourse (Ghazali, 2017). Critical Discourse analysts focus on the elements of discourse in which dominant ideologies are adopted or challenged, and competing and contradictory ideologies coexist (Tenorio, 2011).…”

Using critical discourse analysis to explore an authentic teaching material: A focus on language and power

“…A. Lubis, T. Hastomo & L. Sesriyani, Using critical discourse analysis to explore an authentic teaching material: A focus on language and power | 530 'think', 'believe', and (5) the use of logical conjunction such as 'however', 'therefore', and 'accordingly'. CDA has gained its popularity that some related studies have been conducted previously like the one by Al Ghazali (2017). Focusing on underpinning learners' sociolinguistics competence and language use, he analysed an authentic text exploring a debate between representatives of the Conservative Party and the Labour Party on a British culture that does not fit the British community.…”

Critical Discourse Analysis on Representation of Racism and Solidarity in Adidas's Tweets

“…It is also the tool to reveal the meanings and messages in Adidas's tweets regarding the black community, their black employees, the Asian community, and the Black Lives Matter event in terms of solidarity, unity, and commitment against racism. Therewith, the research uses CDA that is an analytic method chosen to discover the social processes that reproduce and depict knowledge and power intercourses using discourses (Fairclough, 2003) since it also has obtained popularity in related studies that have been conducted formerly (Al Ghazali, 2017).…”