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Define discourse.
Language in use; a connected series of utterances or sentences that communicates meaning beyond a single sentence.
List at least three features of discourse.
Coherence, cohesion, context-dependence, communicative purpose, social and cultural relevance.
What is a speech act, and why is it important in discourse?
A speech act is an action performed through language (e.g., requesting, promising). It is important because it shows how language achieves communication.
What is discourse analysis?
The study of language beyond the sentence, including texts and conversations, considering context, structure, and meaning.
What is cohesion? Give an example.
Cohesion is the grammatical or lexical linking of sentences, e.g., using pronouns or connectors like “and,” “but,” “because.”
Explain the relationship between discourse and pragmatics.
Pragmatics studies speaker intention, meaning in context, and social rules, which are essential for analyzing discourse.
Explain the difference between text and discourse.
Text is the written or spoken product, structured and complete; discourse is language in action, used in real communication and influenced by context.
What is coherence?
The logical flow and consistency of ideas that make a text or conversation understandable.
Why is discourse analysis considered a multidisciplinary field?
Because it involves linguistics, psychology, sociology, philosophy, rhetoric, and cognitive science to study how language works in context.
What does “language beyond the sentence” mean?
It refers to analyzing connected language, such as paragraphs, dialogues, or extended texts, rather than isolated sentences.
Give an example of how a single word can function as discourse.
A word like “Stop!” can communicate meaning and achieve a speech act in context.
How are past, present, and future discourses connected?
Discourse is always linked to previous discourses and influences or relates to current and future communication, forming a chain of meaning.
Why is context important in discourse analysis?
Because meaning depends on social, cultural, and situational factors surrounding the communication.
Name and briefly describe three types of discourse.
Narrative: Tells a story or sequence of events.
Argumentative: Presents a claim and supports it with reasons.
Conversational: Spoken interaction with turn-taking and context-dependent meaning.
Explain the communicative function of discourse.
Discourse allows people to convey meaning, intentions, and social interactions effectively in real-life contexts.