Triangulating Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA)

Abstract

To study ideology is to some extent, to study the ways in which language and meaning are used in everyday forms of social interaction. This is why a theory of language and a linguistic tradition which concerns itself with ideology will be much richer than narrow approaches which concern themselves only with system of signs, fixed meanings or well formed sentences. A theory of language as a social semiotic and of language and ideology has to concern itself with language as a form of social interaction, a meaning potential in and through which subjects and the social are constructed and reproduce while cultural and human conflict are negotiated. Such an analysis depends upon an account of relations of power which takes into account on cultural conflict and the problem of lack of consensus about systems of ideas or beliefs which characterize social systems and includes an account of the relations between action, institutions and social structures.

CDA takes particular interest in the relationship between language and power. It is a type of discourse analytical research that primarily studies the way social power abuse, dominance, and inequality are enacted, reproduced, and resisted. Critical discourse analysts, then, take explicit position and want to understand, expose, and ultimately resist social inequality.

This study attempts to transcend linguistic elements and to include a systematic fashion of the historical and political, sociological and/or psychological dimension in the analysis and interpretation of specific texts by using the principle of triangulating CDA. This involves Gaventa’s Power Cube, Fairclough’s Three Dimension’s of Discourse and Martin and Rose’ Appraisal System as a conceptual framework of analysis of blogging, one of various social media discourse.