Communicative Event - Essay Example

Discourse analysis refers to a general term for a variety of approaches used in analyzing vocal, written, sign languages, or semiotic events (Schiffrin, Tannen, and Hamilton, 2001). The elements of this analysis include conversation, writing, discourse, and communicative event. These elements are defined based on the coherent sequence of propositions, sentences, turns at talk, and speech. As opposed to the traditional linguistic method, discourse analysis does not only study the use of language beyond the boundaries of a sentence, but it also prefers to carry out an analysis of the natural use of language, as opposed to invented examples. Critical discourse analysis has been widely used in educational research. On most occasions educators or teachers who are keen on understanding and addressing issues that have to deal with their professional practice and activities (Widdowson, 2007). Most people enter the field of education because they are concerned with issues dealing with equality, power, and justice.

It is therefore not a surprise that critical discourse analysis is able to give an appealing approach for an educator to understand how issues in education affect them. Furthermore, through discourse analysis, educators have the capability of linking the details of everyday practice, to a wide political and social (Schiffrin, Tannen, and Hamilton, 2001). Discourse analysis would help in solving a research problem in education, mostly because it provides a basis in which a researcher understands some problems in research questions, that are difficult for them to understand. Take, for example, research in higher education administration that seeks to analyze the effects of reduced government spending. The discourses under consideration would be funded research, constrained budget, and academic standards (Widdowson, 2007). By carefully analyzing these discourses, the researcher would get the ability to understand an approach to use in answering the research question.