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The lens of CDA is used to gain insights into how language is used to promote certain
perspectives and to marginalise others. CDA methodology was selected, in part, due to its
ability to be used to mediate between texts to expose the power relations which exist, and in
doing so, “…addressing the ideological dimension of discourse” (Pennycook, 1994, p. 121).
As Fairclough points out, CDA is in part “an element of social practices, which constitutes
other elements as well as being shaped by them” (as cited in Wodak et al., 1999, p. vii). An
important premise to identify is that CDA, along with other qualitative methodologies,
recognises that all language “is expressive of a particular discourse, and bears evidence of
some hegemonic intent” (Widdowson, 1998, p. 146). Tyrwhitt-Drake’s understanding of this
methodology is gleaned from Fairclough, when he writes that the purpose of CDA is for
“…exposing hegemony, demonstrating ‘hidden’ ideological processes, and equipping people
in critical language awareness, the educational application of critical discourse analysis”
(1999, p. 1082) and critique which makes “visible the interconnectedness of things” (as cited
in Wodak, 2004, p. 199). Threadgold discusses the connectedness of texts with a CDA
approach, writing of Fairclough’s approach that “…a new interest in understanding not just
the workings of individual texts, but the ways in which they…enter into networks of, other
texts and discourses to form part of the hegemonic discursive structures which form social
realities, subjectivities and bodies” (Threadgold, 2003, p. 19).
3.2.2 Defining ‘critical’ and ‘discourse’.
Critical, for the purposes of CDA at least, “…is often associated with studying power
relations” (Rogers, 2004, p. 3). Although not specifically using the term ‘power’,
Fairclough’s intent is clear, writing “‘Critical’ implies showing connections and causes which
are hidden…” (Fairclough, 1992, p. 9). Fairclough also situates his work within an historical
context, writing: “…a method for historical analysis…relationships among and boundaries
between discourse practices in an institution or the wider society are progressively shifted in
ways which accord with directions of social change” (Fairclough, 1992, p. 9). The definition
provided by Wodak is also adopted for this project, being “…‘critical’ is to be understood as
having distance to the data, embedding the data in the social, taking a political stance
explicitly, and a focus on self-reflection as scholars doing research…application of the results
is important” (2001b, p. 9). This links with Meyer’s description of CDA, being “…CDA
follows a different and a critical approach to problems, since its endeavours to make explicit
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