DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Discourse Analysis is the study of how language is used in real-life situations. It goes beyond
grammar and looks at how meaning is created through context, culture, and interaction.
● Cultural
● Situational
● Social
OVERVIEW:
Text Vs. Discourse
Spoken vs. Written Discourse
Context vs. situational discourse
Register theory
Genre theory
1. TEXT VS. DISCOURSE
TEXT - a cohesive linguistic unit consisting of sentences
● Organizing into meaningful context
● Combination of sentences
● Printed
● Appear in written or spoken
DISCOURSE - language used within social context
● Including relationship
● Purpose of communication
● Cultural setting
KEY DIFFERENCES
FEATURE TEXT DISCOURSE
SCOPE Linguistic structure Language in social context
UNIT Sentence & paragraph Meaning, interaction, &
purpose
SVA, punctuation, article, Polysemy, ambiguity (double
pronunciation, correctness of meaning) metaphorical
pronunciation
FOCUS Grammar & cohesion Communicative events
(Collective)
EXAMPLE ● A paragraph ● A classroom
● Please submit the discussion
assignment tomorrow. ● A teacher instructing
the student
● A colleague reminding
the workmate
● A supervisor giving
direction
DISCOURSE ANALYSIS - language used in context
Consider:
1. Who is speaking
2. To whom
3. Why
4. In what situation
SPOKEN AND WRITTEN DISCOURSE
Both are forms of communication but differ in:
● Pronunciation
● Accent
● Structure
● Delivery
SPOKEN DISCOURSE
● Occurs in real time communication
● Includes informal language
● Pauses & hesitation (fillers, uhmm)
● Interaction between speakers
Formality scale
Formal ——————— Neutral ——————— Informal
(Example: Teaching-learning process is usually neutral to formal)
PROSODY
● Tone , pitch, stress
● Emphasis to what we want to
EXAMPLES OF SPOKEN DISCOURSE
● Conversations
● Interviews
● Classroom discussions
● Broadcast dialogues (radio)
CHARACTERISTICS OF SPOKEN DISCOURSE
● Spontaneous (not planned)
● Interactive (two-way communication)
● Context dependent (relies on shared understanding)
● Can correct or retract statements
WRITTEN DISCOURSE
● More structured & planned
● Formal organization (formating, flow of content)
● Clear grammatical structure (correctness of grammar, proper indention & spacing)
● Permanence of text (no correction,cannot be easily changed once published))
● Reduce reliance on shared context (do not alter/add/delete the content or information
e.g. memo)
Examples are academic essays, news reports, and research reports
FEATURE SPOKEN DISCOURSE WRITTEN DISCOURSE
PLANNING ● spontaneous ● planned
INTERACTION ● interactive ● monologic
PERMANENCE ● temporary ● permanent
GRAMMAR ● often incomplete ● more structured
Spoken: “Uh, can you, um, pass that paper?”
Written: “Please pass the paper.”
Spoken discourse is natural, interactive, and flexible
Written discourse is structured, formal, and permanent