Product Description

 Language and Power is about how language works to maintain and change power relations in contemporary society, and how understanding these processes can enable people to resist and change them. Substantial changes in social life have taken place in the decade since the original publication, which have changed the nature of unequal power relations, and therefore the agenda for the critical study of language. In this second edition, Norman Fairclough brings the discussion completely up-to-date with the inclusion of a new chapter covering the 'globalisation' of power relations and the development of the internet in relation to language and power.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #135488 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

From the Back Cover
Language in Social Life is a major series which highlights the importance of language to an understanding of issues of social and professional concern. It will be of practical relevance to all those wanting to understand how the ways we communicate both influence and are influenced by the structures and forces of contemporary social institutions. Praise for the first edition of Language and Power- "...an excellent introductory manual"THES "...thought provoking and suggestive"SECOL (Southeastern Conference on Linguistics) Review Language and Power was first published in 1989 and quickly established itself as a ground-breaking book. Its popularity continues as an accessible introductory text to the field of Discourse Analysis, focusing on-
how language functions in maintaining and changing power relations in modern society
the ways of analysing language which can reveal these processes
how people can become more conscious of them, and more able to resist and change them.The question of language and power is still important and urgent in the twenty-first century, but there have been substantial changes in social life during the past decade which have somewhat changed the nature of unequal power relations, and therefore the agenda for the critical study of language. In this new edition, Norman Fairclough brings the discussion fully up-to-date and covers the issue of 'globalisation' of power relations and the development of the internet in relation to Language and Power. The bibliography has also been fully updated to include important new reference material.Norman Fairclough is Professor of Language in Social Life in the Department of Linguistics, Lancaster University.

Customer Reviews

Good but hard going
This book is extremely informative and you don't need to have a hefty background knowledge of linguistic terminology. However, it can be quite involved in parts and some concepts are difficult to grasp hold of. At some points the author goes into quite unnecessary detail over concepts that could actually be explained rather easily.

Extremely interesting
I didn't think analysing language was my thing. However this book changed my mind, it makes analysing conversations easy, interesting and do-able, if you are a social science student - read it, if you are doing your gcse or a levels - read it, if you want an interesting read - well you've got the picture by now.