Forchungstechniken: Critical Discourse Analysis - SoSe 2023

Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) draws on multiple, often overlapping analytical traditions including, among others, critical theory and sociolinguistics, and concerns itself with the area of power in language use. Starting from the point that "language as a form of social practice" (Fairclough, 1989, p. 20), CDA argues that language reflects opaque social and political power relations and imbalances, and aims to demystify them.

In the form of interactive seminars, students will be able to discuss readings on the theoretical and methodological orientations of Critical Discourse Analysis, and study publications that used Critical Discourse Analysis in different ways. It also aims to allow participants to engage actively, collectively, and critically with the presented texts or research papers. The objective, beyond academia, is to develop a critical view on language and discourse, and to recognize patterns of power relations imbalances reflected in discourse and language use.