The Power of Language

"The Power of Language: How Discourse Influences Society" is designed to introduce students at the tertiary level to both Systemic Functional Linguistics and Critical Discourse Analysis. It is aimed at developing critical analytical skills by rooting analysis in SFL methodology so that students can tackle a wide range of discourse types. By connecting SFL and CDA, and by explicitly introducing a solid theoretical foundation in SFL, the critical analyses in the book are not only well grounded but transparent. Each chapter in the volume builds a methodological foundation for the development of critical discourse analytical skills. SFL provides novice analysts with a rich set of resources for CDA and equips them to better reflect on what language is doing and why. "The Power of Language: How Discourse Influences Society" offers explanations along with a wide range of sample analyses to illustrate theory and provide applications of the methodologies introduced in each chapter. Students not only learn by studying a number of analyses but carry out their own analytical work on other samples, thus gaining experience in critical analysis. Each chapter also includes examples of analyses by well known researchers so that novice analysts become familiar with various approaches to analysis. The book should be of interest to undergraduate and graduate students interested in working in both SFL and CDA.