Grammar: 💡 Effective Word Choice & Style - Advanced (C2) - Lesson 4: Critical Discourse Analysis - Examining the relationship between language, power, and ideology in texts

💡 C2 Lesson 4: Critical Discourse Analysis

At the peak of language mastery, we understand that language is never neutral. Every word and grammatical choice is a reflection of a certain point of view. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA)¹ is the advanced skill of "reading between the lines" to examine the relationship between language, power², and ideology³ in texts. It helps us understand not just what a text says, but what it *does*.

Language and Power: Who is in Control?

Grammatical choices can subtly assign responsibility or make actions seem natural and unavoidable. The passive voice is a key tool in this.

Active Voice (Assigns Responsibility):
"The company decided to increase prices." (Clear who is responsible).

Passive Voice (Hides Responsibility):
"The decision was made to increase prices." (Who made the decision? The focus is shifted away from the powerful agent).

Uncovering Ideology and Assumptions

The words a writer chooses (diction) reveal their underlying beliefs and assumptions⁴. Consider two ways to describe the same event in Siem Reap.

Text 1: Official Report

"To improve the aesthetic and safety of the riverside area, unauthorized vendors were cleared from the park."

Analysis: The words 'unauthorized' and 'cleared' frame the vendors as illegitimate and the action as a simple, necessary cleaning process. The ideology prioritizes a specific, orderly vision of public space.

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Text 2: Local Community Newspaper

"Dozens of local families who made their living along the riverside were forcibly evicted from their stalls."

Analysis: The words 'local families' and 'forcibly evicted' humanize the vendors and frame the action as an aggressive use of power. The ideology prioritizes the social and economic impact on people.

Questions for a Critical Analyst

When you read any text, ask yourself these questions to perform your own CDA:

• Whose voice is being represented as the authority? Whose voice is missing?
• What is being presented as "normal" or "common sense"?
• What do the vocabulary choices (e.g., euphemisms, dysphemisms) tell me about the writer's attitude?
• Why was the passive voice or active voice chosen for this key action?
• Who benefits from this version of reality?

🧠 Practice Quiz: Analyze the Language

Analyze the language in each sentence.

1. A government report refers to a civilian death during a military operation as "collateral damage." What is this an example of?
   Answer: A euphemism used to soften a harsh reality and distance the speaker from responsibility.
2. A news headline reads: "Protestors and Police Clash in City Streets." What is the effect of the verb "clash"?
   Answer: It presents the violence as mutual and equal, without saying who started it or who had more power. It creates a sense of neutral observation.
3. Which statement sounds more authoritative and less like a personal opinion?
   a) I think we should reject the proposal.
   b) The proposal must be rejected.
   Answer: b. The passive voice makes the decision sound objective and necessary.
4. A company calls firing 500 people "corporate restructuring." The primary purpose of this language is to...
   Answer: Make a negative business decision sound like a positive, strategic plan.

📝 Homework: Analyze an Authentic Text

Find a short news article (in English) about a topic you are interested in (e.g., from the BBC, Reuters, Al Jazeera). Read it carefully and then answer these questions.

1. Who is quoted or given a voice in the article (e.g., officials, experts, regular citizens)?
2. Find one word or phrase that you think reveals the writer's or publication's bias or point of view. Explain why.
3. Did the author use the active or passive voice to describe the most important event? What is the effect of that choice?

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA): (Noun Phrase) - ការវិភាគទំនាក់ទំនងរវាងភាសានិងអំណាច (kaa vĭ'phéak tŭm'neăk'tŭm'nong rô'véang phéa'saa nɨng âm'nach) - The study of the relationship between language, power structures, and ideology in texts. ↩
2. Power: (Noun) - អំណាច (âm'nach) - The ability or capacity to influence the behaviour of others or the course of events. ↩
3. Ideology: (Noun) - មនោគមវិជ្ជា (m'no'kŭm'vĭ'chéa) - A system of ideas and ideals that forms the basis of economic or political theory. ↩
4. Assumption: (Noun) - ការសន្មត (kaa san'mât) - A thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof. ↩
5. Objective: (Adjective) - អព្យាក្រឹត (âp'pya'krət) - Not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts. ↩