Centre for Discourse Studies PhD Workshop
25th - 27th October 2004

 Critical Discourse Analysis 

Location: Aalborg University, Kroghstræde 3

The video and slides for the first lecture are publicly available online.

Workshop leader:

Norman Fairclough is Emeritus Professorial Fellow in the Institute for Advanced Studies in Management and Social Sciences at Lancaster University, UK. His publications include Language and Power (Longman 2nd ed 2001), Discourse and Social Change (Polity Press 1992), Critical Discourse Analysis (Longman 1995), Media Discourse (Edward Arnold 1995), with Lilie Chouliaraki, Discourse in Late Modernity (Edinburgh University Press 1999), New Language, New Labour? (Routledge 2000), and Analysing Discourse: Textual Analysis for Social Research (Routledge 2003).

Seminar Description

The course has the following objectives:

If you are new to CDA, it is suggested that you read one of:

1. Fairclough, Language and Power, Longman 1989 (or if available the second edition, 2001).

2. Fairclough, New Labour, New Language?, Routledge 2000.

If you already have some familiarity with CDA, it is suggested that you read one of:

3. Fairclough & L. Chouliaraki, Discourse in Late Modernity,  Edinburgh University Press 1999.

4. Fairclough, Analyzing Discourse: Textual Analysis for Social Research, Routledge 2003.

Day 1: October 25

Open lecture: Critical Discourse Analysis: theoretical framework (9-11)

Outline of main features of the theoretical framework of the version of CDA which was initially present in Discourse in Late Modernity and has been elaborated in subsequent publications. This will include: critical realist social ontology (Fairclough, Jessop & Sayer 2004); discourse and social practices; discourse, genre and style; dialectics of discourse; recontextualization; discourse and ideology.

Workshop (11-13): Discussion of speeches by Tony Blair on a new doctrine of ‘international community’ (Kosovo 1999, Iraq War 2002). Transcripts will be circulated in advance.

PhD presentations (14-16).

Day 2: October 26

Lecture: Methodology for CDA research projects (8:15-10)

This lecture will present an approach to methodology. Issues will include: the construction of ‘objects of research’ and specifically discourse analytical research questions from research topics; transdisciplinary research; linguistic analysis within CDA.

Workshop (11-13): Designing a research project. Please come to this session with approximately two pages of notes on the design of a CDA research project, with one or two samples of data you would use. If appropriate, base this on your own research. Be prepared for a short presentation and discussion of your proposal.

Individual appointments with PhD students (14-16).

Day 3: October 27

Lecture: Current Research: Critical Discourse Analysis in Social Research on ‘Transition’ in Central and Eastern Europe (9-11).

This lecture will focus on the research I am currently embarking on: aspects of ‘transition’ in Central and Eastern Europe from a CDA perspective.

Workshop (11-13): Discussion of  data bearing on aspects of ‘transition’ from the CEE region (material will be circulated in the first session).

PhD Presentations (14-16).

Provisional schedule

The provisional schedule is given below (please note the earlier start on Monday). Recommended readings in preparation for the workshop are suggested at the end of this webpage.

PhD students, faculty and other scholars are invited to participate in the seminar. It will be possible to present PhD projects. If you wish to do so, please send a short description (no more than one page) of your PhD project or research topic and data to Søren Frimann <frimann@hum.aau.dk>.

Participation in the workshop will earn a student 5 ECTS points (42 hours). 

The number of participants is limited to 25 on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the workshop is full, a waiting list will be kept. Please inform us as soon as possible if you have registered but cannot attend.

A fee will be charged for participation to cover administrative costs, tea/coffee/fruit and lunches during the three-day workshop. The fee for all participants is 1500 Danish kroner (dinner not included), 

Please register with Bente Vestergaard <bentev@hum.aau.dk>. The registration deadline has now passed and the workshop is full with a waiting list. After registering, you will immediately be sent an invoice with which you can pay the fee using your local banking system (IBAN number). Please note that your registration will only be officially confirmed when your fee has been paid. Payment of the fee should be received by 1st October at the latest, otherwise your registration will be cancelled.

Travel and accommodation are the responsibility of the participant. Location, travel and accommodation information is available on this web site.

For more information, contact:

               Inger Lassen or Søren Frimann.

A poster (PDF) for the workshop is available online (1.6 Mb).

Note: PDF files require Acrobat Reader.

Suggested reading

Reading List One (essential items for the seminar)

N Fairclough & L Chouliaraki Discourse in Late Modernity  Edinburgh University Press 1999.

N Fairclough Analyzing Discourse: Textual Analysis for Social research Routledge 2003.

R Wodak & M Meyer Methods of Critical Discourse Analysis Sage 2001.

N Fairclough, R Jessop, A Sayer 2004 A critical realist interpretation of the effectivity of the production of meaning, in J Joseph & J Roberts (eds)  Realism, Discourse and Deconstruction Routledge.

Chiapello E & Fairclough N 2002 Understanding the new management ideology. A transdisciplinary contribution from Critical Discourse Analysis and the New Sociology of Capitalism. Discourse & Society 13.2.

N Fairclough forthcoming Discourse in processes of social change: ‘Transition’ in Central and Eastern Europe (copies available).

Reading List Two (recommended items for the seminar)

N Fairclough New Labour, New Language? Routledge 2000.

N Fairclough Discourse and Social Change Polity Press 1992.

N Fairclough The discourse of New Labour: critical discourse analysis, in M Wetherell et al Discourse as Data Sage & OU 2001.

N Fairclough Discourse, social theory and social research: the case of welfare reform Journal of Sociolinguistics 4.2 2000.

N Fairclough Critical Discourse Analysis in Researching Language in the New Capitalism: Overdetermination, Transdisciplinarity and Textual Analysis, in C Harrison & L. Young (eds) Systemic Linguistics and Critical Discourse Analysis Continuum 2004.

N Fairclough & R Wodak Critical discourse analysis, in T van Dijk ed Discourse as Social Interaction Sage 1997 (overview article).

Reading List Three (other publications in CDA – selective list)

C R Caldas-Coulthard & M Coulthard Texts and Practices: readings in Critical Discourse Analysis Routledge 1996.

G Kress Linguistic Processes in Sociocultural Change OUP 1988.

G Kress & R Hodge Language as Ideology 2nd ed Routledge 1993.

G Kress & van Leeuwen T Reading Images: the Grammar of Visual Design Routledge 1996.

R Fowler et al Language and Control Routledge 1979.

M Pecheux Language Semantics and Ideology Macmillan 1982.

T van Dijk Racism and the Press Routledge 1991.

T van Dijk News as Discourse Erlbaum 1988.

Discourse and Society 4.2 1993 (special issue on critical discourse analysis).

J Lemke Textual Politics Taylor & Francis 1995.

L Phillips & M Jorgensen Discourse Analysis as Theory and Method Sage 2002.

P Thibault Social Semiotics as Praxis Univ of Minessota Press 1991.

R Wodak Disorders of Discourse Longman 1996.

R Wodak & M Meyer Methods of Critical Discourse Analysis Sage 2001.

R Wodak et al The Discursive Construction of National Identity Edinburgh University Press 2001.

Reading List Four: A selection of relevant publications in social theory/research

Bernstein B The Structuring of Pedagogic Discourse Routledge 1990.

Bourdieu P & Wacquant L Invitation to Reflexive Sociology Polity Press 1992.

Calhoun C ed Habermas and the Public Sphere MIT Press 1996.

M Foucault The Archaeology of Knowledge.

Giddens A Modernity and Self-Identity Polity Press 1991.

Habermas J Theory of Communicative Action v 1 Heinemann 1984.

Harvey D The Condition of Postmodernity Oxford 1989.

Harvey D Justice, Nature and the Geography of Difference Backwell 1996.

R Hennessy Materialist Feminism and the Politics of Discourse Routledge 1993.

Jessop B The Future of the Capitalist State Polity Press 2002.

Laclau E & Mouffe C Hegemony and Socialist Strategy Verso 1985.

Pickles J & Smith A1998 Theorising Transition: the Political Economy of Post-Communist Transformations Routledge. 

Smith D Texts Facts and Femininity Routledge 1990.

Stark D & Bruszt L 1998 Postsocialist Pathways: Transforming Politics and Property in East Central Europe CUP.

Thompson J The Media and Modernity Polity Press 1995.