WHAT IS DISCOURSE?

Introduction to Discourse Analysis

WHAT IS DISCOURSE?

 

■ Formal definitions typically characterize discourse as a unit of coherent language consisting of more than one sentence; functional definitions characterize discourse as language in use (Schiffrin, 1994). 

 

 

■ It presupposes that we know what “language” consists of and that a piece of discourse is an instance of putting elements of language to use.

 

■ The most satisfying definition of discourse is one that combines these two perspectives: A piece of discourse is an instance of spoken or written language that has describable internal relationships of form and meaning (e.g., words, structures, cohesion) that relate coherently to an external communicative function or purpose and a given audience/interlocutor.

 

 

■ The external function or purpose can only be properly determined if one takes into account the context and participants in which the piece of discourse occurs.

 

 

■ Using a language entails the ability to both interpret and produce discourse in the context in spoken and written communicative interaction, which is why we assign such a central role to discourse in our discussion of frameworks that should inform language teaching.