Handbook on Critical Discourse Studies
Will be published approx. on 28. January 2026
Book
Hardback
434 pages
978-1-0353-1975-6 (ISBN)
Description
Featuring a series of engaging conversations with key figures in the field, this accessible Handbook outlines the crucial concepts of Critical Discourse Studies (CDS). Mapping the existing literature, contributors use qualitative and quantitative research to invite new engagements with CDS and to provide insight into primary debates.
Chapters showcase the contributions of CDS scholars and their predictions for the future through conversations with key figures in the field. They explore the complexities of integrating empirical and theoretical approaches, as well as discussing fundamental methodological debates including those around decolonisation, argumentation, cognition, and affect. Expert authors survey the area through a series of specific case studies covering topics such as the environment, gender and sexuality, immigration, and discourse and governance. They assess the relationship between ethnography and CDS, the impact of the rise of social media, and the connections between CDS and health, wellbeing, and communication.
The Handbook on Critical Discourse Studies is a vital resource for scholars and students interested in discourse, identity and power, especially but not limited to those studying communication, linguistics, politics and sociology.
Chapters showcase the contributions of CDS scholars and their predictions for the future through conversations with key figures in the field. They explore the complexities of integrating empirical and theoretical approaches, as well as discussing fundamental methodological debates including those around decolonisation, argumentation, cognition, and affect. Expert authors survey the area through a series of specific case studies covering topics such as the environment, gender and sexuality, immigration, and discourse and governance. They assess the relationship between ethnography and CDS, the impact of the rise of social media, and the connections between CDS and health, wellbeing, and communication.
The Handbook on Critical Discourse Studies is a vital resource for scholars and students interested in discourse, identity and power, especially but not limited to those studying communication, linguistics, politics and sociology.
Reviews / Votes
'Featuring an impressive line-up of contributions, this comprehensive Handbook showcases the diversity, richness and discipline-spanning flexibility of Critical Discourse Studies (CDS). Originally organised in interviews, methodological debates, literature surveys and case studies, the contributing chapters provide an illuminating review of key perspectives, approaches and topics in CDS. From students entering the field to established scholars looking to delve further into CDS, this handbook provides a practical guide and a valuable tool for navigating the complexities of discourse, power and social change. This is a must-have resource offering clear insights into the critical dimensions of language in action.' -- Sofia Lampropoulou, University of Liverpool, UK 'Bringing together insightful and sometimes quite personal interviews with major scholars, chapters on methodological issues and interdisciplinary dialogue, and case studies and literature overviews on major issues from migration to gender and the environment, this Handbook is a rich, exciting and useful collection for everyone interested in Critical Discourse Studies, from scholars discovering the field to those interested in the intricacies of its history and future trajectories.' -- Benjamin de Cleen, Vrije University, BrusselsMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 169 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0353-1975-6 (9781035319756)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Edited by Bernhard Forchtner, School of Arts, Media, and Communication, University of Leicester, UK and Franco Zappettini, Faculty of Political Sciences, Sociology and Communication, La Sapienza University in Rome, Italy
Content
Contents
1 Welcome to the introduction of Handbook on Critical Discourse Studies 1
PART I PERSPECTIVES - CONVERSATIONS WITH CRITICAL DISCOURSE STUDIES SCHOLARS
2 'The key linguistic universal is the ability in every language to say no' 12
3 'I don't separate the cognitive and the rhetorical' 19
4 'I figured Marx was doing language analysis' 28
5 'I like an evidence-based CDA' 36
6 'It's an approach which allows for the most of inter- or transdisciplinary dialogue' 43
7 'The classroom is the best place to engage students in critical discussion for social change' 53
8 'We can only build situated knowledge, even if some situated knowledge dresses as if it were universal' 62
9 'We've got to work out how our knowledge can be used for public good' 74
10 'CDS moves with the times' 81
11 'CDS needs a cognitive analysis of the role of knowledge, attitudes, ideologies, norms and values' 89
12 'You make a lens and the lens leaves something out' 97
13 'I do believe that we do have some impact, but it will take a long time and it's all small steps' 104
14 Critical discourse studies: A decolonial approach 113
PART II DEBATES - NAVIGATING METHODOLOGICAL CHALLENGES
15 Contexts of complementarity: An easy relationship between critical discourse studies and ethnography 129
16 Towards a social and ethnographic multimodal critical discourse analysis 141
17 Anything goes? Integrating qualitative and quantitative methods in critical discourse studies 158
18 Argumentation, cognition and manipulation in critical discourse studies 175
19 Affect in/and critical discourse studies 190
20 Critical discourse studies and the rise of social media: Methodological debates and challenges 203
PART III TOPICS - MAPPING THE FIELD AND CASE STUDIES
Section 1 The natural environment
21 Critical discourse studies and the environment 219
22 Incorporating text mining into critical discourse studies: A corpus-assisted discourse study of press representations of climate change in China 230
Section 2 Neoliberal economy
23 The discursive power of economic reasoning in the neoliberal era 245
24 'Diagonalist' discourses: A case study of Russell Brand under-labouring the far right 256
Section 3 Media and democracy
25 Gatekeeping the public sphere 269
26 Lapdog interviewers: A critical discursive analysis of flattery towards political figures on the air 281
Section 4 Gender and sexuality
27 Gender and sexuality in critical discourse studies 294
28 Identity construction of transgender women: A multimodal critical discourse analysis of videos on Chinese social media 306
Section 5 Health and wellbeing
29 Critical discourse studies and health communication 319
30 What is good care, and who is it good for? A multimodal critical discourse analysis of UK care home websites 331
Section 6 Immigration and discrimination
31 Researching immigration and racism with critical discourse studies 346
32 'Our country will not be an open-field': Analysing Greek electoral campaigns on the migration issue through the lens of critical discourse studies 358
Section 7 Communication and governance
33 Discursive strategies of power and governance 371
34 Discourse and governance 382
Section 8 Conflict, war and terrorism
35 Mapping the field of critical discourse studies on war and armed conflict 396
36 Critical discourse studies of conflict, war and terrorism: A case study of Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab 407
1 Welcome to the introduction of Handbook on Critical Discourse Studies 1
PART I PERSPECTIVES - CONVERSATIONS WITH CRITICAL DISCOURSE STUDIES SCHOLARS
2 'The key linguistic universal is the ability in every language to say no' 12
3 'I don't separate the cognitive and the rhetorical' 19
4 'I figured Marx was doing language analysis' 28
5 'I like an evidence-based CDA' 36
6 'It's an approach which allows for the most of inter- or transdisciplinary dialogue' 43
7 'The classroom is the best place to engage students in critical discussion for social change' 53
8 'We can only build situated knowledge, even if some situated knowledge dresses as if it were universal' 62
9 'We've got to work out how our knowledge can be used for public good' 74
10 'CDS moves with the times' 81
11 'CDS needs a cognitive analysis of the role of knowledge, attitudes, ideologies, norms and values' 89
12 'You make a lens and the lens leaves something out' 97
13 'I do believe that we do have some impact, but it will take a long time and it's all small steps' 104
14 Critical discourse studies: A decolonial approach 113
PART II DEBATES - NAVIGATING METHODOLOGICAL CHALLENGES
15 Contexts of complementarity: An easy relationship between critical discourse studies and ethnography 129
16 Towards a social and ethnographic multimodal critical discourse analysis 141
17 Anything goes? Integrating qualitative and quantitative methods in critical discourse studies 158
18 Argumentation, cognition and manipulation in critical discourse studies 175
19 Affect in/and critical discourse studies 190
20 Critical discourse studies and the rise of social media: Methodological debates and challenges 203
PART III TOPICS - MAPPING THE FIELD AND CASE STUDIES
Section 1 The natural environment
21 Critical discourse studies and the environment 219
22 Incorporating text mining into critical discourse studies: A corpus-assisted discourse study of press representations of climate change in China 230
Section 2 Neoliberal economy
23 The discursive power of economic reasoning in the neoliberal era 245
24 'Diagonalist' discourses: A case study of Russell Brand under-labouring the far right 256
Section 3 Media and democracy
25 Gatekeeping the public sphere 269
26 Lapdog interviewers: A critical discursive analysis of flattery towards political figures on the air 281
Section 4 Gender and sexuality
27 Gender and sexuality in critical discourse studies 294
28 Identity construction of transgender women: A multimodal critical discourse analysis of videos on Chinese social media 306
Section 5 Health and wellbeing
29 Critical discourse studies and health communication 319
30 What is good care, and who is it good for? A multimodal critical discourse analysis of UK care home websites 331
Section 6 Immigration and discrimination
31 Researching immigration and racism with critical discourse studies 346
32 'Our country will not be an open-field': Analysing Greek electoral campaigns on the migration issue through the lens of critical discourse studies 358
Section 7 Communication and governance
33 Discursive strategies of power and governance 371
34 Discourse and governance 382
Section 8 Conflict, war and terrorism
35 Mapping the field of critical discourse studies on war and armed conflict 396
36 Critical discourse studies of conflict, war and terrorism: A case study of Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab 407