An Introduction to Discourse Analysis

Theory and Method

James Paul Gee (Arizona State University, USA)

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English

Routledge
28 February 2025

Bilingualism & multilingualism; Semantics; Research methods: general; Philosophy & theory of education

This bestselling textbook provides a comprehensive guide to conducting discourse analysis. The book outlines Gee’s approach, which involves examining how language is used in context to construct meaning, identities, relationships, and social practices.

The theoretical framework is built around seven ""building tasks"" that language performs: significance, practices, identities, relationships, politics, connections, and sign systems and knowledge. Gee introduces six ""tools of inquiry"" for analyzing these tasks: situated meanings, social languages, figured worlds, intertextuality, Discourses, and Conversations.

Methodologically, Gee emphasizes the importance of context and the reciprocal relationship between language and context. He discusses transcription, outlines the components of an ""ideal"" discourse analysis, and addresses issues of validity.

The book provides practical guidance on analyzing various aspects of language, such as intonation units, stanzas, and the overall organization of oral and written texts. Gee uses interview data to demonstrate how identities and socially situated meanings are constructed through language.

This new edition is updated throughout with new examples and a new chapter on multimodal discourse analysis, demonstrating how Gee’s approach can be applied to texts that combine language with other modes of communication, like images or video. Overall, the book equips readers with a robust toolkit for systematically analyzing discourse.

An Introduction to Discourse Analysis can be used as a stand-alone textbook or ideally used in conjunction with the practical companion title How to do Discourse Analysis: A Toolkit. Together they provide the complete resource for students studying discourse analysis.

By: James Paul Gee (Arizona State University USA)
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: 5th edition
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
Weight: 540g
ISBN: 9781032880389
ISBN 10: 1032880384
Pages: 280
Publication Date: 28 February 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION Chapter 2: WHAT IS DISCOURSE ANALYSIS? Chapter 3: BUILDING TASKS Chapter 4: TOOLS OF ENQUIRY AND DISCOURSE Chapter 5: SOCIAL LANGUAGES, CONVERSATIONS, AND INTERTEXTUALITY Chapter 6: CONVERATIONS AND INTERTEXTUALITY Chapter 7: APPLYING THE TOOLS Chapter 8: BASIC MEANINGS, SITUATIONAL MEANING AND FIGURED WORLDS Chapter 9: FIGURED WORLDS Chapter 10: MORE ON FIGURED WORLDS Chapter 11: CONTEXT Chapter 12: TRANSCRIPTION, AN “IDEAL” DISCOURSE ANALYSIS, AND VALIDITY Chapter 13: PROCESSING AND ORGANIZING LANGUAGE Chapter 14: MEANING AND CHOICE Chapter 15: SAMPLE OF DISCOURSE ANALYSIS 1 Chapter 16: SAMPLE OF DISCOURSE ANALYSIS 2 Chapter 17: MULTIMODALITY

James Paul Gee is a Regents Professor, Emeritus, at Arizona State University and an elected member of the National Academy of Education. He is the author of many books and papers on linguistics, literacy, discourse analysis, and learning. His books include What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Literacy and Learning (2007), Introducing Discourse: From Grammar to Society (2017), and What Is a Human? (2020).

Reviews for An Introduction to Discourse Analysis: Theory and Method

'The main strengths of How to Do Discourse Analysis and An Introduction to Discourse Analysis lie in the clear, engaging style that makes complicated concepts accessible through the use of metaphor, and the abundance of examples. I would recommend everyone who teaches discourse analysis to have these two books in their inventory, if not as main course books, then for selective use as a collection of readings and exercises.’ Daria Dayter, Tampere University, Finland