Discourse analysis, the study of language in use, explores how language functions not only at the sentence level but also as a tool for accomplishing social actions and conveying richer meanings. Discourse refers to connected chunks of spoken or written language used to communicate meaning in real-life interactions. It includes from casual conversations to political speeches, digital communication, and mass media texts. Discourse analysis examines how language is organized and used in different social settings and purposes, considering context, participants’ roles, and the intentions behind language use. It views language as a social and cognitive phenomenon. 

 Meaning does not only emerge from words but also from their interaction with context, non-verbal cues, and the sequence of utterances. Spoken discourse, for example, is rich with prosodic features such as intonation, pauses, pitch, and loudness. This helps listeners interpret speakers’ attitudes, emotions, and intentions. It shapes how listeners perceive whether a statement is a question, a command, or an offer, affecting the direction of a conversation.

Social ties of language are also highlighted in discourse analysis. Speakers use language to perform actions, shape social identities, and participate in cultural practices. It shows how language varies across contexts such as medical, legal, or political domains, uncovering how specialized discourses serve particular functions and ideologies. Furthermore, discourse reflects cognitive processes as people draw on mental representations and shared cultural knowledge when producing and interpreting discourse. 

Understanding discourse helps in uncovering biases and power structures in media representation, enhancing teaching methods in language education, improving legal and medical communication, and developing more natural human-computer interaction. It opens a window into the complex and contextualized ways language operates in society.

References:

Canning, P., & Walker, B. (2024). Discourse Analysis. Taylor & Francis.