Critical Discourse Analysis in Studying Language Ideologies

  
Applied Linguistics
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Questions
Given the relationship between power and ideology in societies, how can we use the Critical Discourse Analysis in studying language ideologies in the mass media?
In countries with small minorities how does public discourse hinder or promote certain linguistic features common in a social group? How does bilingualism or multilingualism influence communication among people from different generations?
Summary
Lin (2014) argues that there are five criteria for evaluating the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) in applied linguistics. This includes social commitment to address social problems, a problem oriented approach to studying applied linguistics, interdisciplinary approaches and methods, considering the interests of the readers in discourse and finally researcher reflexivity. The interdisciplinary nature of CDA has resulted in researchers addressing social issues in social and political contexts as well as ideologies in everyday communication. CDA is a recent research field where the interrelationship of discourse, language and power are investigated using various theories. Language is analyzed to determine discursive practices associated with creating or maintaining unjust social situations. Language and discourse shape and constitute the social structure such that they affect inequalities and power in a society. Various theories have been adopt...