Šolsko polje, letnik XX, številka 5-6, 2009: Vloga ... - Pedagoški inštitut

TOPOI IN CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSISIgor Ž. ŽagarThe Discourse-Historical Approach (DHA), pioneered by Ruth Wodak (seeWodak, de Cillia, Reisigl, Liebhart, 1999; Wodak, van Dijk, 2000; Wodak,Chilton, 2005; Wodak, Meyer, 2006; Wodak, 2009), is one of the majorbranches of critical discourse analysis (CDA). In its own (programmatic)view, it embraces at least three interconnected aspects:»1. ‘Text or discourse immanent critique’ aims at discovering internalor discourseinternal structures.2. The ‘socio-diagnostic critique’ is concerned with the demystifyingexposure of the possibly persuasive or ‘manipulative’ character of discursivepractices.3. Prognostic critique contributes to the transformation and improvementof communication.« (Wodak, 2006: 65)CDA, in Wodak’s view,»is not concerned with evaluating what is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. CDA ... shouldtry to make choices at each point in the research itself, and should makethese choices transparent.1 It should also justify theoretically why certaininterpretations of discursive events seem more valid than others.«»One of the methodical ways for critical discourse analysts to minimizethe risk of being biased is to follow the principle of triangulation.Thus one of the most salient distinguishing features of the DHA is itsendeavour to work with different approaches, multimethodically andon the basis of a variety of empirical data as well as backgroundinformation.« (Wodak, 2006: 65)One of the approaches DHA is using in its principle of triangulation isargumentation theory, more specifically the theory of topoi. Being a philosopherby formation, working within the field of argumentation theoryŠOLSKO POLJE LETNIK XX (2009) ŠTEVILKA 5/6 str. 47-73