.png "ENG524 LESSON 23 Critical Discourse and Social Theory Final Notes-Vuhelpers24") |
| ENG524 LESSON 21 Critical Discourse and Social Theory Final Notes-Vuhelpers24 |
Topic 01: Introduction to CDS & Social Theory
Q1: Why has Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) been successful across critical social sciences?
A1: CDA's success is due to its understanding of the relationship between language use, contexts, and structures. It focuses on power relations through meaning-making rather than just language use itself.
Q2: How does 'doing' CDS require reflection on linguistic means and the social?
A2: 'Doing' CDS involves reflecting on linguistic means as well as understanding the social aspects, and recognizing the interplay of action, order, and change.
Q3: What role do social theories play in CDS research?
A3: Social theories offer systematic reflections on the workings of the social world, providing frameworks to understand discursive events as elements of the social.
Q4: Which scholars have influenced CDS and how have they been referenced?
A4: Scholars like Althusser, Bourdieu, Foucault, Gramsci, etc., have been referenced in CDS studies, offering conceptual frameworks for analyzing power, ideology, and discourse.
Topic 02: Intro to CDS & Social Theory (Continued)
Q5: How did the original approach to discourse analysis (CL) view social structures and language use?
A5: The original approach saw social structures as deterministic and aimed to unveil dehumanizing language use, yet lacked awareness of reception and agency.
Q6: What was Althusser's view of ideology and its material existence?
A6: Althusser defined ideology as the imaginary relationship of individuals to their real conditions of existence, emphasizing its material existence and practices.
Q7: What other developments in CDS are related to social theories?
A7: Corpus linguistics studies in CDS draw on social theories, such as Foucauldian discourse, Butler's gender understanding, and concepts from Deleuze, Laclau, and Rancière.
Topic 03: Marx & (Neo) Marxist Influences
Q8: How have Marx and neo-Marxist influences shaped CDA/CDS?
A8: Many CDA/CDS authors have been influenced by Marx and neo-Marxist thought, recognizing the role of language and culture in capitalist societies.
Q9: What did Fairclough and Graham argue regarding Marx's view on language?
A9: They argued that Marx understood the link between language, consciousness, social life, and civil society, offering a model to understand the interplay between discourse and the material dimension of social life.
Q10: How do social theories like Giddens and Gramsci contribute to CDS?
A10: Giddens' theory of structuration views subjects as active players in society, while Gramsci's concept of hegemony is relevant for understanding domination through consent.
Topic 04: Post-Structural Influences
Q11: How has Foucault influenced CDS?
A11: Foucault's discourse analysis views discourse as constitutive of power and knowledge, emphasizing the discursive nature of social change and relationships.
Q12: How do Laclau and Mouffe's concepts of discourse and articulation relate to CDS?
A12: Laclau and Mouffe's Discourse Theory links Marxism with post-structuralist theories, emphasizing the interplay between semiosis and non-discursive aspects.
Topic 05: Conclusion
Q13: Why is integrating social theory into CDS important?
A13: Integrating social theory is crucial for CDS to fulfill its claims and enhance its problem-oriented research capabilities.
Q14: How do Marxist-inspired scholars and post-structuralists differ in their approach to CDS?
A14: Marxist-inspired scholars focus on interconnections and hidden meaning resources, while post-structuralists emphasize openness and difference.
Q15: What challenges can arise from integrating different theoretical approaches in CDS?
A15: Integrating various theories offers a flexible toolkit but can lead to contradictions. Additionally, differing conceptual universes influence problem formulation.
