Critical Discourse Analysis and Cognitive Science: New Perspectives on Immigration Discourse

by C. Hart

Overview

Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is an exciting research enterprise which aims to disclose ideological and persuasive properties of social and political texts. Since its inception, CDA has been theoretically eclectic, drawing its methods from linguistics and across the social sciences. However, CDA has paid relatively little attention to the relationship between text and cognition and neglected relevant developments in cognitive science. This study advances a model for CDA which draws on two areas of cognitive science, Evolutionary Psychology and Cognitive Linguistics, to provide a novel approach to analysing immigration discourse. Its major strength lies in the fact that it goes beyond pure text description to offer cognitive insights into how and why manipulation and the communication of ideology are possible in discourse.

This book will appeal to students and researchers interested in connections between language, mind, media and politics and especially those looking to explore new frameworks for CDA.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230279506
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	10/20/2010
Edition description:	2010
Pages:	219
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

CHRISTOPHER HART is Lecturer in English Language and Communication at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. His research focuses on the relationship between discourse and cognition in political contexts. He is co-editor of the volume Cognitive Linguistics in Critical Discourse Analysis: Application and Theory (2007).

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables x

Preface xii

Acknowledgements xiii

Part I The Scope of CDA

Introduction 3

1 Critical Discourse Analysis 13

1.1 Introduction 13

1.2 Approaches to CDA 14

1.3 The Socio-Cognitive Model 15

1.4 The Role of the Media 16

1.5 New Directions 19

1.5.1 Evolutionary psychology 19

1.5.2 Cognitive linguistics 23

1.6 Summary 29

Part II Evolutionary Psychology

2 Communication, Cooperation and Manipulation 33

2.1 Introduction 33

2.2 Representations 33

2.3 Communication and Representations 35

2.4 Communication for Cooperation 37

2.5 Cooperation in Communication 40

2.6 Communication for Manipulation 42

2.7 Summary 48

3 Referential Strategies 49

3.1 Introduction 49

3.2 Inter-Group Threats in the EEA 50

3.3 Adapted Responses 52

3.4 Adaptations in the Contemporary World 53

3.5 Discourse as Input 55

3.6 Summary 61

4 Predication and Proximisation Strategies 62

4.1 Introduction 62

4.2 Coercion 63

4.3 Predication 65

4.4 Cheater-Detection Module 67

4.5 Activations of the Cheater-Detection Module 71

4.5.1 Topoi of disadvantage, burden, finance and displacement 73

4.5.2 Topos of exploitation 75

4.5.3 Topoi of culture, character and crime 78

4.6 Activations of Emotion Modules: Anger and Fear 80

4.6.1 Topoi of danger, displacement and disease 82

4.7 Proximisation 83

4.8 Summary 87

5 Legitimising Strategies 89

5.1 Introduction 89

5.2 Legitimisation 90

5.2.1 Internal coherence 92

5.2.2 External coherence 94

5.2.2.1 Evidentiality 95

5.2.2.2 Source-tagging 98

5.3 Summary 101

Part III Cognitive Linguistics

6 Conceptualisation 105

6.1 Introduction 105

6.2 Spaces 105

6.3 Frames and Schemas 108

6.4 Conceptual Metaphors and Conceptual Blends 113

6.4.1 Conceptual blending theory 115

6.4.2 Conventional and conceptual metaphors 121

6.5 Summary 124

7 Metaphor 125

7.1 Introduction 125

7.2 Metaphor 125

7.3 Defining Metaphor in Discourse 129

7.4 Metaphors for Britain 130

7.4.1 Prepositional prompts 132

7.4.2 Lexical prompts 134

7.5 Metaphors for Immigrants and Immigration 144

7.5.1 War metaphors 144

7.5.2 Water metaphors 147

7.6 Summary 157

8 Force-Dynamics and Epistemic Modality 158

8.1 Introduction 158

8.2 Force-Dynamics 159

8.3 Epistemic Modality 166

8.3.1 Evaluation 169

8.3.2 Authority 170

8.3.3 Epistemic modality versus evidentiality 171

8.4 Epistemic Modal Markers 174

8.5 Epistemic Modality and Force-Dynamics 179

8.6 Summary 181

Concluding Remarks 183

Notes 192

References 202

Index 217

Editorial Reviews

'The book would be particularly interesting to critical discourse analysts wishing to engage in cognitively oriented analysis and interpretation, well as cognitive linguists wishing to apply Cognitive Linguistics to critical research.' - Alexandra Polyzou, Lancaster University, Critical Discourse Studies

From the Publisher