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First assignment of: (ENG-509; Critical Discourse Analysis)

Presented to Instructor: (Dr. Moazzam Ali)

Presented By: (Rimsha Fatima)

Roll Number: (23011702-005)

Department: (MPhil English Linguistics; 1st semester)

Topic of assignment: (“Language and Ideology”)

Content Map for assignment:

1. Introduction to the chapter

2. Body (Location of ideology, discourse and text, hegemony, limitations of ideology)

3. Conclusion
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Introduction to the chapter (language and ideology)

This chapter mainly deals with the relationship between language and ideology and how such

relations are shown in the analysis of a specific discourse. It included achievements and

limitations of Marxism. This chapter also discusses merits of locating ideologies in language

structure or language events. The section “language and ideology” deal with the concept of

discourse and process of its analysis also includes the investigation of linguistic features which

ideologically invested in a discourse or text. This part of the book also deals with Gramsci’s

concept of Hegemony and sees the process; how language changes in a discursive practice to

maintain ideology and balance the social forces. In the end, it discusses some limitations of

ideology.
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I. Location of Ideology

Location of ideology in structure

Ideology invests language in various ways and at various levels hence, language can be the

property of structure or event. Ideology can be present in both structures which are the outcomes

of past events and conditioning the present event and it can be located in event themselves.

Placement of ideology is an underlying language practice it could be present in; structure, codes

or formation.

Location of ideology in Event

Ideology can be positioned in a discursive event (text production and interpretation) itself.

Discursive text represents ideology as a process that goes on event and allows the transformation

and fluidity to be highlighted. Ideology resides in the text; it’s not possible to “read off” the

ideology from the text. Ideologies cut of boundaries of situation types of institutions; we need to

be able to understand how ideology transcends particular code or discourse.

Linguistic features ideologically invested

The entities in the structure which are articulated and rearticulated are not all codes or registers

they can be smaller entities such as; lexicon, generic scripts, sets of politeness etc. it is more

related with the contrasting lexicalization or turn taking system and transfers ideology which

closely harmonies with the concept of hegemony (maintaining rule without force).

Hence, ideology is both present in structures and the events themselves and ideology reproducing

and transform the conditioning structures where economic and political conditions as an

ideological basis influence the conceptualization of language.

II. Discourse and Text

Discourse
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“Language use” imbricated to the social relations and social processes having various properties

including linguistic forms appears the text can be considered as a notion for discourse. Discourse

as a social imbrication process is linked with the idea that language is a material form of

ideology and language is invested by ideology. Ideology lays effect on discourse which causes

creation and constant recreation of relation among subjects and objects which settle the social

world. For instance; family including father, mother, grandparents etc. all shaped in ideological

processes on discourse.

Discourse analysis

Discourse is complex concept made of three elements i.e. social practice, discourse practice, and

text and analysis of discourse is mainly concerned with all three dimensions’ analysis and its

interpretations.

Text

The “Form” or the content including lexemes, coherence, presuppositions, implicatures, and

metaphors etc. all collectively makes a text. Some formal features of text sometimes are

ideologically invested. Style of a text is maybe ideologically significant. The style selection can

also be a sort of ideological process of subject constitution.

III. Hegemony

Hegemony originated in Lenin, and it was elaborated by Gramsci during the analysis of Western

Capitalism and Revolutionary strategy in Western Europe. It is a leadership and domination in

cultural, political, and economic aspects in society. It is like a construction of treaty in between

two classes; one which want to rule and second who has to accept the rule and its political, moral

and cultural values. In hegemony, ruling class through language manipulates ideas and control

society by giving their own ideology. The basic concept of hegemony is that a man can not only
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be rules by force but with ideas.

According to Gramsci, in cultural hegemony ruling class manipulates societal beliefs,

explanation and perceptions and through this process the worldview of the ruling class becomes

the worldview of the whole society. Gramsci deals ideology as an action, he takes ideology in

terms of social effects.

The word we write or speak is the result of social interaction and dominant ideologies of times.

A word is always linked with the cultural mean which condition us to think in particular ways

e.g. the stratification in the society in hierarchical manner like; the bourgeois and proletariat.

Hegemony represents; political, economic control and shows interests in making it normal for

the subjugated class to accept with active consent. Hence, hegemony is a process in which sub

ordinate class remains in subordination and dominant class maintain their control without fight.

IV. Limitations of Ideology

Ideology in general

Discourse relations are ideologically invested to sustain or weaken power relations. Power

relations affect the discourse practices in scientific or theoretical discourse. It opposes ideology

and science or theory and doesn’t imply that all discourses are ideological. Hence, concept of

“Ideology in general” is not always applicable. Ideologies are just arises in the society which are

characterized by the relations of domination, these societies are capable of transcending

ideologies.

There could be an ideological combat in our everyday talk but not all types of discourses or texts

are equally mixed with the ideologies e.g. instead of scientific discourses the ads are more into it.

Though an ideology is hidden in our thoughts and lies in our brains and seems as a common

sense still it can be identified and we can see through it. Through the use of CDA we can detect
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ideologies, beware of and criticize that ideology. But during criticism we need to be cautious

about we can accidently support another ideology. In short, we need to beware of standing up

against ideology and we should use detection, analytical approach to discern and comprehend the

intricate the schemes of ideology.