Discourse and Social Change

by Norman Fairclough

Now available in paperback, this book is a critical introduction to discourse analysis as it is practised in a variety of different disciplines today, from linguistics and sociolinguistics to sociology and cultural studies. The author shows how concern with the analysis of discourse can be combined, in a systematic and fruitful way, with an interest in broader problems of social analysis and social change. Fairclough provides a concise and critical review of the methods and results of discourse analysis, discussing the descriptive work of linguists and conversation analysts as well as the more historically and theoretically oriented work of Michel Foucault. He develops an original framework for discourse analysis which firmly situates discourse in a broader context of social relations bringing together text analysis, the analysis of processes of text production and interpretation, and the social analysis of discourse events.

Genres: Sociology, Nonfiction, Linguistics, Academic, Language, Communication, Research Methods

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little book on discourse analysis, from a critical perspective and with an eye towards practice. It begins with a very useful summary (although now perhaps a bit outdated, but not by much) comparison, and criticism of traditional linguistics, Foucaultian discourse analysis and critical discourse analysis, fascinating to anyone interested in hegemony, power and language I should imagine. That is followed by a much more technical section of actual examples of text and illustrations of analytical techniques, and at the end is an incredibly useful guide for doing discourse analysis with main categories for analysis and the questions to build the analysis itself. Dead useful, and a very good start at bridging the distance between deep analysis of discourses in a linguistic sense, and the way other social sciences might go about it, which I am much more familiar with...

[Clare Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting analysis on a research method, too complex for general readers but a good practical guide for those interested in conducting DA.

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a useful book. I think I will need to reread sections of it. It doesn't make discourse analysis easy, nor does it have things I can quote to defend the way I have analysed my text (in the small amount of work I have already done), but I must admit I am still in love with discourse analysis (especially the critical sort) and its possibilities even after reading this (the second Fairclough book and about the fifth DA book I have looked at.

cDA is one of those things which "ruins everything" you can never innocently view a text again. My brain seems to enjoy that but it does make me harder and harder to get along with the more of this I read. Oh well...I will stick with this.

[Marcus Lira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book on critical discourse analysis. If you want to know more about this approach to language, read it!

[Sue Lyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the classics which is a must read for anyone working in the field of discourse analysis and social change.

[✨ tweety ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uno dei tanti libri da leggere per la mia tesi aaaa

[Luis · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many different approaches to discourse analysis, but if there is something distinctive of this one is Fairclough's cristal clear way of writing about it. As some other book on the subject present it in a byzantine way, Fairclough's approach gets straight to the main questions of this fascinating subject.

[Natalie (CuriousReader)]

Read for school; guide to discourse analysis.