2024/2 PBI Introduction to Linguistics

Discourse Analysis (DA) and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) are complementary approaches to understanding language and society. DA provides a foundational understanding of language as a social practice, showing how meaning is constructed and realities shaped. CDA builds on this, adding a critical lens to expose how language perpetuates power imbalances, ideologies, and inequalities. While DA describes, CDA critiques and aims for social change.

The lasting relevance of discourse studies lies in their power as tools for critical inquiry and social awareness. They enable us to critically engage with and potentially reshape the discursive landscapes around us. By making visible the "invisible processes shaping social reality through language," these methods increase our awareness of how we participate in and are shaped by discourse.

This heightened awareness can lead to practical changes: from more critical media consumption to promoting equitable communication practices within organizations. Ultimately, discourse studies foster "critical literacy," empowering individuals to deconstruct and resist dominant narratives, contributing to a more informed and just society. Their importance lies in fostering deeper understanding of social dynamics and promoting more equitable communication.