Discourse: A Critical Introduction (Key Topics in Sociolinguistics) by Jan Blommaert

Key Topics in Sociolinguistics

by Jan Blommaert

This new introduction offers a critical approach to discourse, written by an expert uniquely placed to cover the subject for a variety of disciplines. Organised along thematic lines, the book begins with an outline of the basic principles, moving on to examine the methods and theory of CDA (critical discourse analysis). This concise introduction will be welcomed by students and researchers in a variety of disciplines involved in the study of discourse, including linguistics, linguistic anthropology and the sociology of language.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback Bunko

First published December 1, 2004

Reviews

[John Farebrother · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is a very specialised book, I think it will also be very accessible and interesting for luddites. I read it while I was doing my MA in applied translation. The book analyses the nature of discourse, and how it can be interpreted in different ways, depending on the preconditioning of the parties, and of course the context. It cites some fascinating examples, such as the Red Army's failure to intervene in the Warsaw uprising, which would have required them to cross a river (they crossed it anyway, several days later). Different observers understand the discourse on this event in different ways, depending on the perspective from which they approach it: did they deliberately abandon the Warsaw partisans, many of them Jews, to their fate, or was caution in crossing a major river, at a time when the war was far from over, fully justified in military terms? These and many more questions all come down to human communication, which is the subject matter of this scholarly and exhaustive analysis.

[Will]

(Gelezen voor school)

[Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

apesar de às vezes as categorias serem pouco claras (um mapa de realização X instanciação ajudaria muito, mas talvez seja "linguístico demais"), é um livro útil e em geral bastante claro, além de fazer a óbvia, mas (bizarramente) esquecidíssima ponte entre a análise do discurso e a antropologia linguística (ou, de modo mais geral, a linguística sociocultural estadunidense). ecletismo organizado é algo sempre louvável.

[Everett Egginton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Key work in sociolinguistics. Successfully argues for a much broader view of discourse, above and beyond the field of linguistics. I've used it as my principal text in an education graduate course in linguistics and bilingual education.