A way of examining language not as grammatical tool but as how it is used in real life situation. The examination of language goes beyond a sentence construction to embraces meaning outside a sentence. It looks at the social aspect of utterances in terms of the political situation on ground. CDA observes that language is not neutral. Any language or wording is informed by the intention of the speaker who wants to influence the listen to see reality the way he sees it. The speaker also wants to be influential therefore have power to affect the way others think and handle themselves in everyday life.
Published in Chapter:
Exploring the Concept of Youth Bulge From a Linguistic Perspective: A Critical Discourse Approach
Magret Jongore (Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe)
Copyright: © 2019
|Pages: 21
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-9388-1.ch012
Abstract
The chapter tackles youth bulge according to a number of scholars. The analysis aims at bringing forth understanding of the concept from a linguistic perspective. In linguistics, any text can be analyzed using linguistic tools to unearth context, syntax, and semantics, pragmatic and socio-linguistic elements that inform it. Analysis of the likes of Callick, Hendrixson, Fantorpe, Collier, and others on youth bulge is done. Critical discourse analysis is used for analysis. CDA observes that texts are manifestations of politics. Texts are sites for struggle to maintain, influence, and persuade the general to respect the social order of the day. Thus, texts are replication of the society that reproduce them. Texts serve to maintain the powerful in their esteemed positions. Thus, texts are ideological and hegemonic in nature. Text reveals in language and visuals as signs, dress and artifacts. Thus, the chapter avails a number of standpoints of what youth bulge entails and institutes CDA to unravel politically and ideological permeated aspects of the concept.