Description
Book SynopsisThis book is available as open access through the Bloomsbury Open Access programme and is available on www.bloomsburycollections.com. What is Discourse Analysis? is an accessible introduction to an empirical research approach which is widely used in the social sciences and related disciplines. This book explores the idea of how meaning is socially constructed and how 'talk' and text can be interpreted. The challenges of discourse analysis are outlined as well as helpful ways to approach them - from finding the right starting point, processing and interpreting data through to building an argument. Discourse analysts work with language data, including talk, documents and broadcast material. Researchers in different traditions study interactions and social practices, meaning-making and larger meaning systems, and contests and conflicts around collective identities, social norms and subjectification.
What is Discourse Analysis? addresses new researchers and other academics interested in language and its associated practices. The book outlines the history of discourse analysis, its key concepts and theorists and its uses and challenges. Discussions of published studies illustrate the use of the approach to investigate a range of research topics, such as gender, health and national identities. The book also addresses the practical aspects of discourse analysis, providing clear guidance on data collection and data processing, including transcription and selection. Covering important topics,
What is Discourse Analysis? draws from recent articles to show how discourse analysis works in action. Common questions about discourse analysis are presented in a lively and accessible Q&A format. This book will be an essential resource for all researchers working with discourse analysis.
Trade Review[This book] offers a coherent and wide-ranging introduction to the major developments in discourse analysis, from the very beginning to the present day ... Detailed, coherent and accessible ... an excellent resource, particularly for postgraduate students who want to pursue discourse analysis further. -- Yijin Wu and Wen Ma, Shandong University, P. R. China * Discourse Studies *
Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction Section 1.1: What is discourse analysis? Section 1.2: Key terms Chapter 2: An academic history of discourse analysis Chapter 3: Three examples of discourse analysis Section 3.1: The construction of prejudice Section 3.2: Gender in talk Section 3.3: Discourses of health and illness Chapter 4: The usefulness of discourse analysis for social science researchers Section 4.1: Reasons to use discourse analysis and language data Section 4.2: Different forms of data Section Section 4.3: Obtaining data Chapter 5: The challenges of discourse analysis Chapter 6: Criticisms of discourse analysis Chapter 7: Summary Index
