Discourse and Ideology
The word discourse originates from the french word “discours” which refers to speech and dialogue. This, linked with “discursus” in Latin which means to “run around”, means we can take literally that discourse means “to run around speech” or in other words, to assess speech in all aspects.
There are many varying meanings of the word “discourse” written by theorists and literary writers. These meanings all overlap in areas and provide several alternative meanings of the broad term. Despite being so widely used, its meaning or even its existence is often presupposed in society, due to its constant presence and relevance in everyday life and conversation.
Put arguably simpler by Wetherell, Taylor, and Yates, discourse is “the study of language in use” and this is a sufficient starting point to begin defining the broad term.
Discourse, as described by Foucault in his linguistic analysis, is how people in society act, talk, think, and communicate in general, and a common conclusion is that discourse both simultaneously shapes and arises from culture. In other words, discourse is shaped and developed by the everyday beliefs and assumed knowledge, but it also actively shapes them.
As outlined by Mills, discourse is “frequently left undefined” despite being a term with a huge range of meanings across many different platforms such as psychology, linguistics, and philosophy. This lack of a definitive meaning may be a result of the automatic and pre-determined acceptance of discourse in everyday life.
Most studies of discourse begin with the study of speech and language however this can develop much further. Rather than focusing on the words used in language, discourse can be described as the wider study of also who is speaking and how the words are being said, as these aspects can all alter the meaning and definition of what is being said.
This can also bring in multimodal aspects of film and conversation which involve the use of multiple semiotic codes.
There are many varying meanings of the word “discourse” written by theorists and literary writers. These meanings all overlap in areas and provide several alternative meanings of the broad term. Despite being so widely used, its meaning or even its existence is often presupposed in society, due to its constant presence and relevance in everyday life and conversation.
Put arguably simpler by Wetherell, Taylor, and Yates, discourse is “the study of language in use” and this is a sufficient starting point to begin defining the broad term.
Discourse, as described by Foucault in his linguistic analysis, is how people in society act, talk, think, and communicate in general, and a common conclusion is that discourse both simultaneously shapes and arises from culture. In other words, discourse is shaped and developed by the everyday beliefs and assumed knowledge, but it also actively shapes them.
As outlined by Mills, discourse is “frequently left undefined” despite being a term with a huge range of meanings across many different platforms such as psychology, linguistics, and philosophy. This lack of a definitive meaning may be a result of the automatic and pre-determined acceptance of discourse in everyday life.
Most studies of discourse begin with the study of speech and language however this can develop much further. Rather than focusing on the words used in language, discourse can be described as the wider study of also who is speaking and how the words are being said, as these aspects can all alter the meaning and definition of what is being said.
This can also bring in multimodal aspects of film and conversation which involve the use of multiple semiotic codes.