By DalatTESOL
Introduction
Language is never used in a vacuum. Every utterance carries with it a web of meanings, relationships, histories, and intentions. Discourse analysis (DA) is the field of study that helps us unpack these layers, offering powerful tools for understanding how language operates in real-world contexts. In applied linguistics and TESOL, discourse analysis is more than just a method—it is a perspective on language that helps educators and researchers examine language use as situated, patterned, and socially meaningful.
This article introduces key concepts, approaches, and procedures in discourse analysis, along with practical classroom applications and research directions in the EFL context.
1. Key Concepts in Discourse Analysis
Discourse vs. Text
A text is a stretch of spoken or written language, while discourse refers to language use in context, including its social, cultural, and ideological dimensions. For example, a transcript of a classroom discussion is a text, but discourse analysis examines how participants construct meaning, power, and identity within that text.
Cohesion and Coherence
- Cohesion refers to linguistic devices (e.g., conjunctions, pronouns, lexical repetition) that tie sentences together.
- Coherence is the overall sense of meaning and flow that a reader or listener derives, based on background knowledge and context.
Context
Understanding discourse requires attention to:
- Linguistic context (what was said before/after)
- Situational context (who, where, when)
- Cultural context (shared norms, values)
Power, Ideology, and Identity
Language both reflects and shapes social identities and ideologies. Discourse analysts often ask: Whose voices are heard or silenced? How are power relations negotiated through language?
Genre and Register
- Genre refers to conventionalized ways of communicating in specific settings (e.g., job interviews, academic essays).
- Register involves the level of formality, technicality, and tone appropriate to a context.
Intertextuality
Texts reference or echo other texts. For example, a news report might include quotes from politicians or use metaphors drawn from sports or war—linking it to broader discourses.
2. Major Approaches in Discourse Analysis
Conversation Analysis (CA)
Originating from sociology, CA focuses on the structure of everyday talk:
- Turn-taking: How speakers alternate turns
- Repair: How problems in speaking are fixed
- Adjacency pairs: Expected sequences like greeting–greeting or question–answer
🔎 Example: In a speaking class, a student says:
A: “What’s the meaning of concise?”
B: “Uh… I think… like short?”
A: “Ah! Got it.”
CA would analyze the pause (“uh…”), the uncertainty, and how understanding is achieved collaboratively.
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA)
CDA, developed by scholars like Norman Fairclough and Teun van Dijk, aims to reveal how language perpetuates power structures and ideologies.
🔎 Example: Analyzing an EFL textbook dialogue:
“Westerners are more direct, while Asians are polite and avoid saying no.”
This essentialist framing reinforces cultural stereotypes.
Interactional Sociolinguistics
This approach, associated with Gumperz and others, emphasizes contextualization cues—intonation, code-switching, pauses—which guide interpretation across cultures.
🔎 Example: A teacher’s raised eyebrows and slow tone may signal sarcasm or displeasure, which learners from other cultural backgrounds may misinterpret.
Genre Analysis
Popularized by Swales (1990), genre analysis focuses on the move structures of texts—especially in academic or institutional settings.
🔎 Example: In research articles, Swales’ CARS model outlines three moves in the introduction:
- Establishing territory
- Identifying a gap
- Occupying the niche
Multimodal Discourse Analysis
This approach expands beyond words to include visuals, gestures, layout, and other semiotic resources.
🔎 Example: Analyzing a YouTube English lesson, one might examine how the teacher uses gestures, slides, and on-screen annotations to scaffold meaning.
3. Research Procedures in Discourse Analysis
Data Collection
Depending on the approach, common data sources include:
- Audio/video recordings of interactions
- Written texts (essays, emails, textbooks)
- Online communication (forums, chat logs)
Transcription and Coding
CA uses detailed transcription systems (e.g., Jefferson conventions), while CDA often uses broader thematic or rhetorical coding.
📝 Sample transcription (simplified):
S1: So… like (0.5) you know (laughs), I just– I don’t get it?
S2: Mmm (nods), it’s tricky, yeah?
Analysis
Researchers ask:
- What patterns emerge?
- How do participants construct meaning or negotiate identity?
- How is power enacted, challenged, or hidden?
4. Discourse Analysis in TESOL Classrooms
Teaching Awareness of Discourse Patterns
- Highlight hedging (e.g., “maybe,” “I guess”) in speaking
- Compare politeness strategies across cultures
- Analyze essay structures using genre moves
Task-Based Activities
- Discourse diaries: Students reflect on real-life conversations
- Textbook critique: Identify hidden cultural messages
- Transcription analysis: Break down peer conversations
5. Research Examples in the EFL Context
- Analyzing teacher talk in Vietnamese EFL classrooms for turn-taking and scaffolding
- Examining gendered discourse in high school textbooks
- Investigating power dynamics in teacher-student email exchanges
- Studying how translanguaging appears in bilingual student interaction
6. Challenges and Considerations
- Over-interpretation: Avoid projecting meaning not supported by data
- Cultural sensitivity: Be careful when analyzing discourse across cultural boundaries
- Ethical issues: Respect participant consent and anonymity, especially in naturally occurring data
Conclusion
Discourse analysis offers valuable insights into how language shapes and reflects social life. For TESOL researchers and practitioners, it provides the tools to examine not just what is said, but how, why, and with what effects. Whether used to critique materials, design reflective classroom tasks, or pursue research, DA fosters critical awareness and pedagogical depth.
📌 By DalatTESOL – Supporting educators and scholars in applied linguistics.
💬 Interested in learning more? Email us at dalattesol@gmail.com or explore more resources on our website.
APPENDIX – DA SAMPLE RESEARCH TOPICS
a brainstormed list of potential research topics using Discourse Analysis (DA) in applied linguistics, categorized by focus areas and research levels (MA, PhD, or publication-ready research). These can serve as thesis topics, classroom inquiry, or full journal studies.
🔹 1. Classroom Discourse
- Turn-taking and Wait Time in EFL Classrooms: A Conversation Analysis of Vietnamese Secondary School Teachers
- Teacher Feedback Moves and Learner Uptake: A Microanalysis of Corrective Feedback in Speaking Lessons
- Code-Switching as a Teaching Strategy: Discourse Patterns in Bilingual English Classrooms
- Gendered Talk in EFL Classrooms: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Teacher-Learner Interaction
- Building Rapport Through Teacher Talk: A Pragmatic-Discourse Study of Vietnamese EFL University Teachers
🔹 2. Materials and Textbook Analysis
- Representation of Cultural Stereotypes in Global vs. Local English Textbooks: A CDA Approach
- How ‘Native’ is the Voice in English Textbooks?: Discourse Analysis of Listening Scripts
- Politeness and Power in Textbook Dialogues: A Pragmatic Discourse Study
- Hidden Curriculum in EFL Reading Texts: Ideological Framing in High School English Materials
🔹 3. Student Writing and Academic Discourse
- Argument Structure in Vietnamese vs. Western Student Essays: A Genre and Move Analysis
- Authorial Voice in Graduate Student Writing: A Discourse Analysis of MA Theses in Applied Linguistics
- Hedging and Boosting in Academic Writing: Cross-cultural Comparison Between Vietnamese and International Writers
- Translanguaging Practices in Bilingual Academic Writing: A Multimodal Discourse Study
🔹 4. Digital and Online Communication
- Peer Feedback on Google Docs: Discourse Patterns and Power Negotiation
- How Vietnamese Students Write to Professors: Pragmatic Failures and Politeness in Email Communication
- Discourse of Identity on English Learning Facebook Pages: A Multimodal Analysis
- WhatsApp Chats in Language Learning Groups: Conversation Analysis of Peer Scaffolding
🔹 5. Policy and Institutional Discourse
- How English Language Policy Frames ‘Global Citizenship’: A Critical Discourse Analysis of National Curriculum Documents
- Discourse of ‘Excellence’ in University Mission Statements: Implications for EFL Programs
- Linguistic Imperialism in ASEAN Education Documents: A CDA Study
🔹 6. Cross-cultural and Intercultural Discourse
- Intercultural Miscommunication in Speaking Tests: Discourse Analysis of IELTS Examiner-Candidate Interactions
- How Identity is Negotiated in Study-Abroad Blogs: A Narrative Discourse Study
- Speech Act Realization Across Cultures: A Discourse-Pragmatic Comparison of Requests by Vietnamese and American Students
- Discourse of ‘Face’ in Vietnamese and Western Communication: A Contrastive Discourse Analysis
🔹 7. Assessment and Testing Discourse
- Discourse of Standardization in High-Stakes English Exams: A CDA of Test Instructions and Rubrics
- Rater Comments in Speaking Assessments: Discourse Strategies and Ideologies of Proficiency
- Power Asymmetries in Oral Proficiency Interviews: A Conversation Analysis of Test Talk
🔹 8. Multimodal and Media Discourse
- How English Teachers Present Themselves on YouTube: A Multimodal Discourse Analysis
- Gesture, Gaze, and Speech in English Tutorials: A Multimodal Study of Teacher Scaffolding
- Advertising the ‘Ideal’ English Speaker: CDA of English-Learning Product Ads in Vietnam