“DISCOURSE ANALYSIS”

Lecturer: Deasy Yunita Siregar, M.Pd

Created By: Group 9

• Natasya Miranda Gihar (0304222075)

• M. Habib Rifki (0304222097)
• Dhea Salsabila (0304232060)

TBI 3/5th Semester

ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF TARBIYAH AND TEACHING TRAINING

STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF NORTH SUMATERA

2024
 PREFACE

First of all, thanks to Allah SWT because of the help of Allah, the lord of the world, the
author can finish doing the paper with the title is “Discourse Analysis”.The purpose of writing this
paper is to fulfil the assignment given by Mrs. Deasy Yunita Siregar, M.Pd as a lecturer of
Pragmatics course in the preparation of this paper.

In arranging this paper, the author truly get lots challenges and obstructions but with help
of many individuals, those obstruction could passed. Authors also realized there are still many
mistakes in process of writing this paper.

Because of that, the writer says thank you to all individuals who help in the process of
writing this paper. Hopefully Allah replies all helps and bless you all. The writer realized that this
paper still imperfect in arrangement and the content. Then the writer hope the criticism from the
readers can help the writer in perfecting the next paper. Last but not the least hopefully, this paper
can helps the readers to gain more knowledge about “Discourse Analysis”.

Medan, November 8th, 2024

Group 9

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 TABLE OF CONTENT

PREFACE…………………………………………………………………………………………1

TABLE OF CONTENT…………………………………………………………………...………2

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………...….3

A. Background of Paper…………………………………………………………………...…3
B. Problem Formulation……………………………………………………………...………3
C. Purpose of the Paper…………………………………………………………………...….3

CHAPTER II. DISCUSSION…………………………………………………………………….4

A. The Definition of Discourse Analysis…………………………………………………….4

B. The Correlation Between Discourse Analysis and Pragmatics…………………………...4
C. The Functions of Discourse Analysis……………………………………………………..5
D. Types of Discourse Analysis…………………………………………………………...…6

CHAPTER III. CLOSING………………………………………………………………………..9

A. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..…9

REFERENCE……………………………………………………………………………………10

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 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of Paper

Discourse analysis explores how language functions within social, cultural, and historical
contexts to convey meaning beyond isolated words. Scholars such as James Paul Gee, Norman
Fairclough, and Teun A. Van Dijk highlight its role in understanding language as a tool for
constructing identities, power relations, and social structures. Discourse analysis and pragmatics
share an interest in meaning in context. While pragmatics focuses on individual speech acts and
speaker intentions (Levinson, 1983), discourse analysis examines broader language sequences and
their social functions. It serves functions like understanding context, revealing power dynamics,
and improving communication in fields such as healthcare and education. Different types of
discourse analysis, including Conversation Analysis, Critical Discourse Analysis, and Narrative
Analysis, offer various tools for examining language in different settings, making it a valuable
approach for linguists and social scientists.

B. Problem Formulation

The problem formulation of this paper is as follows:

1. What is Discourse Analysis?

2. What is Discourse analysis based on experts?
3. What are the functions of Discourse Analysis?
4. What are the types of Discourse Analysis?
C. Purpose of Paper

The purposes of this paper are:

1. To know the Discourse Analysis

2. To know the Discourse Analysis based on experts
3. To know the functions of Discourse Analysis
4. To know the types of Discourse Analysis

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 CHAPTER II

DISCUSSION

A. Definition of Discourse Analysis

Discourse analysis is the study of how language is used in real-world contexts to convey
meaning, beyond just words and sentences. It focuses on the social aspects of communication and
the ways people use language to achieve specific effects (e.g. to build trust, to create doubt, to
evoke emotions, or to manage conflict). Discourse is not just language. It’s the way we use
language to communicate with each other in social situations. It is a way to share our thoughts and
ideas, build relationships, establish culture, influence others, and create meaning in our world.

The definition of Discourse Analysis based on the experts:

• According to James Paul Gee (2014), discourse analysis is an approach used to understand
how the use of language can create and maintain social identities, power relations, and
interpretations of the world. Gee emphasizes the importance of social context in discourse
analysis, as well as how "discourse" (language) is used in various social situations.
• Michel Foucault (1972) defines discourse as a system of thought and practices that underlie
how knowledge and truth are formed within society. For Foucault, discourse is not only
about language but also about the social and political structures behind it, which influence
how we understand reality.
• Brown and Yule (1983) state that discourse analysis is the study of language use in real
communication contexts, including how speakers organize and interpret meaning in
conversations or texts.

B. The Correlation Between Discourse Analysis and Pragmatics

Discourse analysis and pragmatics are closely related fields in linguistics, both dealing with
how language conveys meaning in context. Pragmatics studies the aspects of meaning that go
beyond the literal interpretation of words, examining how context, speaker intentions, and
situational factors influence language meaning (Levinson, 1983). It investigates how speakers use

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language to perform specific acts, such as requesting, promising, or apologizing, and how listeners
interpret these acts.

Discourse analysis shares this interest in contextual meaning but focuses more broadly on
larger units of language, such as conversations, written texts, and social interactions. Where
pragmatics may examine a single speech act or utterance within a conversation, discourse analysis
looks at how sequences of language create cohesion, coherence, and structure within
communication. For example, pragmatics might analyze the meaning behind the sentence, “Can
you pass the salt?” as a polite request, while discourse analysis would examine how this request
functions within a larger dining conversation.

Both fields complement each other by examining language use in real-life settings.
Pragmatics provides insights into how language functions at a sentence or utterance level, while
discourse analysis expands this by considering the broader communicative context. By combining
discourse analysis with pragmatics, researchers can achieve a deeper understanding of how
language functions in social interactions, revealing both the explicit and implicit meanings within
communication.

C. The Functions of Discourse Analysis

Discourse analysis serves various functions in understanding language and

communication. These functions include:

1. Examining Language in Context: Discourse analysis provides insight into how language
conveys meaning in different contexts. For example, the same sentence might have different
meanings depending on cultural context, social setting, or relationship between speakers.
2. Revealing Power Dynamics and Ideology: Discourse analysis can reveal how language
reinforces or challenges social hierarchies, power relations, and ideologies. For example,
analyzing political speeches may uncover how language is used to persuade, manipulate, or
establish authority.
3. Understanding Social Interaction and Identity: Through discourse analysis, researchers can
explore how people use language to construct and express their identities and relationships.

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 For instance, the language used in online communities may reflect shared beliefs, values, or
group identity.
4. Facilitating Cross-Cultural Communication: Discourse analysis helps us understand cultural
differences in communication styles, which is crucial in today’s globalized world. This
function aids in developing intercultural communication skills by highlighting cultural
variations in discourse.
5. Improving Communication in Professional Fields: Discourse analysis has practical
applications in various fields, such as education, healthcare, and media. For example, in
healthcare settings, it can help professionals understand how patients describe their symptoms,
leading to better diagnosis and care.

D. Types of Discourse Analysis

1. Conversation Analysis (CA)

Conversation Analysis focuses on the structure of everyday spoken interactions. It studies

how people take turns in a conversation, how they handle interruptions, pauses, and how certain
expressions (like “uh-huh” or “yeah”) signal understanding or agreement. The goal is to understand
the natural flow of conversation.

Example:

Imagine a casual conversation between two friends at a coffee shop:

A: “Did you see the new movie?”

B: “Yeah, it was awesome! I loved the ending.”

A: “Same! And the soundtrack was so good too!”

In CA, we might analyze how Person B uses “Yeah” to show they are actively listening and
agreeing, keeping the conversation flowing smoothly.

2. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA)

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 Critical Discourse Analysis examines how language can reinforce or challenge social
power and ideologies. CDA often looks at texts or speeches to uncover how language shapes
perceptions and maintains certain beliefs within society.

Example:

In a media analysis of immigration, a news article might use terms such as “illegal immigrants” or
“undocumented migrants.” With a Critical Discourse Analysis approach, researchers will explore
how this word choice can shape readers’ perceptions of this group.

‘Illegal immigrants’ gives the impression that the person is breaking the law and may be considered
a threat. While ‘Undocumented migrants’ are more neutral and describe them as individuals who
may simply lack official documentation, rather than as lawbreakers. CDA will examine how the
use of these terms reflects and reinforces certain ideologies, such as negative views of immigrants
or support for certain policies, as well as how it can strengthen existing power and social structures.

3. Narrative Analysis

Narrative Analysis looks at stories and personal accounts to understand how people make
sense of their experiences. This type of analysis considers the structure of the story (beginning,
middle, and end) and how people use stories to convey personal meaning.

Example:

Think of a person sharing their experience about moving to a new country:

Story: “When I first moved, it was tough, I didn’t know the language. But over time, I made friends,
and now it feels like home.”

4. Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical Analysis focuses on the rhetorical ways (such as ethos, pathos, logos) used by
the writer or speaker to build arguments and influence the audience. It also includes analysis of
text structure, language style, word choice, and other techniques aimed at shaping the audience’s
opinions or actions.

Example:

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Rhetorical Analysis in Discourse Analysis: Examining political speeches to see how leaders use
rhetorical strategies such as ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic) to convince the
audience. Ethos (Credibility) Words or phrases that convey expertise, integrity, or morality to build
the audience’s trust in the writer or speaker. Example: “As an expert with over 20 years of
experience…”. Pathos (Emotion) Words are meant to evoke certain feelings, such as empathy,
anger, or patriotism, to appeal to the audience’s emotional side. Example: “Imagine if you had to
lose the person you love…”. Logos (Logic) Words or phrases that present facts, statistics, or logical
arguments to build a rational, convincing argument. Example: “According to statistical data, more
than 80%…”

5. Multimodal Discourse Analysis

Multimodal Discourse Analysis studies how different modes of communication (like

images, sounds, text, and gestures) work together to convey a message. This type is common in
analyzing media like advertisements, films, or social media posts.

Example:

Imagine a toothpaste ad. The ad combines a smiling image of a person with shiny teeth, upbeat
background music, and text like “Brighter Smiles Every Day!” Multimodal Analysis would
examine how each element (image, text, music) works together to create a positive, persuasive
message about the product.

6. Ethnographic Discourse Analysis

Ethnographic Discourse Analysis studies how language is used in specific cultural or social
groups. Researchers spend time observing and recording language in natural settings, like a
community gathering, to understand how language reflects the group’s identity, values, and shared
knowledge.

Example:

Suppose a researcher is studying a sports team’s locker room talk. They may observe players using
specific phrases or slang only understood within the team. Ethnographic Analysis would look at
how this unique language fosters camaraderie and reflects the team culture.

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 CHAPTER III

CLOSING

A. Conclusion

In conclusion, discourse analysis is a comprehensive approach to studying language in real-

world contexts, focusing on how social, cultural, and ideological factors influence meaning beyond
individual words or sentences. It explores how language functions in communication, helping
individuals build relationships, construct identities, and shape social structures. Closely related to
pragmatics, which examines how context influences the meaning of single utterances, discourse
analysis takes a broader view by looking at larger language units within social interactions. Various
types of discourse analysis offer different perspectives, such as conversation analysis, which
studies the flow of everyday interactions; critical discourse analysis, which uncovers power
dynamics in language; and multimodal discourse analysis, which examines how text, images, and
sounds work together to convey messages. Additionally, discourse analysis has practical
applications, revealing how language reinforces or challenges social norms, facilitating cross-
cultural understanding, and enhancing communication across fields like education, healthcare, and
media. Through these insights, discourse analysis uncovers how language both reflects and shapes
our social realities.

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 REFERENCES

Brown, G., & Yule, G. (1983). Discourse Analysis. Cambridge University Press.

Foucault, M. (1972). The Archaeology of Knowledge (A. M. Sheridan Smith, Trans.). Pantheon
Books.

Gee, J. P. (2014). An Introduction to Discourse Analysis: Theory and Method (4th ed.). Routledge.

Johnstone, B. (2018). Discourse Analysis (3rd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.

Levinson, S. C. (1983). Pragmatics. Cambridge University Press.

Schiffrin, D., Tannen, D., & Hamilton, H. E. (2003). The Handbook of Discourse Analysis. Wiley-
Blackwell.

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