Analysing Power in Language: A practical guide

225 Pages·2014·0.73 MB·English

by  Tom Bartlett

ANALYSING POWER IN LANGUAGE
Analysing Power in Language introduces students to a range of analytical techniques
for the critical study of texts. Each section of the book provides an in-depth presen-
tation of a different method of analysis with worked examples and texts for students
to analyse and discuss. Answer keys are also provided for the analyses.
Taking text analysis as the first step in discourse analysis, Analysing Power in
Language:
• explores the relationship between the goals of discourse, the social positions of
the speakers, the contexts in which they are produced, the audience for which
they are intended and the language features chosen
• presents a powerful approach to text analysis that reveals the links between lan-
guage usage and a community’s assumptions, convictions, and understandings
• identifies a range of power types, appropriate to different contexts
• explains and illustrates a social approach to text analysis with important linguis-
tic concepts woven in seamlessly with examples of discourse
• offers concrete guidance in text and discourse analysis with carefully crafted
examples and fully illustrated explanations.
Incisive and thought-provoking yet also accessible, Analysing Power in Language is
essential reading for advanced undergraduate, postgraduate and research students
studying discourse analysis.
Tom Bartlett is Senior Lecturer in Language and Communication at Cardiff Uni-
versity, UK.
Praise for this book
‘A rare gem indeed: an accessible introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistics,
built on solid theoretical foundations, and yet giving hands-on advice on practical
text analysis. Written in a clear and engaging style, the book builds a bridge from
text to discourse, and shows readers how to cross it.’
Gerlinde Mautner, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria
‘Tom Bartlett’s book is a terrific new “how-to” guide for apprentice discourse
analysts. While ambitious in its coverage of linguistic concepts, it remains grounded
through diverse and useful exercises for students needing to move from text analysis
to the interpretation of the “magical properties” of language in social context.’
Annabelle Lukin, Macquarie University, Australia
‘Through an exploration of the contexts and wordings of the speeches of con-
temporary political, religious and cultural figures, and others, Bartlett presents an
accessible framework for text analysis that leads to a critical analysis of discourses of
power. His explanations and exercises are engaging and thought-provoking with
helpful suggestions for exploring the background of the texts analysed and further
reading.’
Sheena Gardner, Coventry University, UK
‘This book is an engaging, comprehensive and much-needed bridge between the
analysis of the specific language used in texts and an understanding of their effects
within the historical, cultural and social contexts in which they were produced.
Tom Bartlett uses his well-practiced expertise in analysing text as “gateways” to
discourse to breathe life into linguistic analysis, drawing on many examples of real
texts and incorporating exercises to scaffold readers into in-depth methods of text
and discourse analysis. It is certain to become a treasured textbook for anyone
teaching courses in rhetoric, discourse analysis, language studies or communica-
tion, and a highly welcome read for those wanting a greater understanding of the
relationship between language and power.’
Anne McCabe, Saint Louis University, Madrid, Spain
ANALYSING POWER
IN LANGUAGE
A practical guide
Tom Bartlett
First published 2014
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2014 Tom Bartlett
The right of Tom Bartlett to be identified as author of this work has
been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data
Bartlett, Tom, 1962-
Analysing power in language : a practical guide / Tom Bartlett.
pages cm.
1. Discourse analysis—Social aspects. 2. Power (Social sciences) 3. Sociolinguistics. I. Title.
P302.84.B37 2014
401'.41—dc23
2013025389
ISBN: 978–0–415–66631–2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978–0–415–66630–5 (pbk)
ISBN: 978–1–315–85193–8 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo
by Swales & Willis Ltd, Exeter, Devon
For Mary, Sadie and Jamie
And the random fits o’ daffin’ –
The finest of discourse types.
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CONTENTS
Lists of figures and tables ix
Acknowledgments x
Transcription conventions xi
A note on the presentation of texts xii
1 Texts as gateways to discourse analysis 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Grammar, text, context and discourse 3
1.3 Different perspectives on grammar 4
1.4 Three areas of meaning potential 6
1.5 Key concepts 1 9
1.6 Positioning 11
2 Ploughing a field (or two) 16
2.1 Introduction 16
2.2 Immediate and displaced fields 17
2.3 Cohesion, continuity of reference and motifs 32
2.4 Reference and motifs in Seb Coe’s address to the IOC 34
2.5 Summary 41
3 Construing participation: the speaker as puppeteer 44
3.1 Introduction 44
3.2 Transitivity: process types 45
3.3 Transitivity: circumstances 83
viii Contents
3.4 Transitivity analysis of full text 83
3.5 Discussion of analysis 84
4 Interpersonal meaning: text as interaction and alignment 92
4.1 Introduction 92
4.2 Mood and speech function 93
4.3 Modality, attribution and evidentiality 103
4.4 Appraisal 115
4.5 Conclusion 129
5 Textual meaning: the speaker as weaver 131
5.1 Introduction 131
5.2 Theme and Rheme 131
5.3 Marked Theme 135
5.4 Interpersonal and textual Themes 142
5.5 Thematic progression 148
5.6 Worked text 151
5.7 Summary 155
6 Space, time and chunks of text 157
6.1 Introduction 157
6.2 Types of Rhetorical Unit 158
6.3 Relations between RUs 165
6.4 Summary 168
7 Voice and hybridity 170
7.1 Introduction 170
7.2 Key concepts 2 170
7.3 Voice, roles and hybridity 173
7.4 Conclusion 180
Appendix: Hidden text 182
Glossary 184
Answers 191
References 207
Index 210
LISTS OF FIGURES AND TABLES
Figures
1.1 Positioning Triangle, adapted from Harré and van Langenhove (1999) 11
1.2 A Positioning Star of David 12
4.1 Categories of appraisal 117
7.1 RU structure of Text 6.2, ll.113–130 176
Tables
2.1 Reference in Coe’s Olympic address 35
2.2 Motifs in Coe’s Olympic address 38
3.1 Summary of probes 82
3.2 Types of circumstance 84
3.3 Transitivity analysis of Coe’s Olympic address 85
4.1 Speech roles 94
4.2 Summary of modality 113
5.1 Subordinate clauses 138
6.1 Types of rhetorical unit 161
6.2 RUs in Bush’s address 162
6.3 RUs in Obama’s address 163
6.4 Relations between RUs in Bush’s address 168
6.5 Relations between RUs in Obama’s address 169
7.1 Phases and contextual configurations in Uncle Henry’s presentation 178