Discourse

Definition

Van Dijk in his book Discourse as structure and process states that "the term discourse usually refers to a form of language use, public speeches or more generally to spoken language or ways of speaking."  and that "People use language in order to communicate ideas or beliefs (or to express emotions), and they do so as part of more complex social events" (Dijk 2)

In her book, Carlota C. Smith recognizes five modes of discourse which are Narrative, Description, Report, Information and Argument. (Smith 8)

Examples

Romeo and Juliet Act I Prologue by William Shakespeare 

The opening prologue is delivered prior to the actors entering the stage. It is spoken by the “Chorus.” This is a group of people, or a single narrator, who, throughout this play, and in other Shakespearean works, introduced scenes, gave necessary background detail, and describe characters.(Baldwin)

The chorus provides a discourse that is not heard by the characters in the story. They are narrative discourse is critical to the reader, audience members, and understanding of what they’re about to see. (Baldwin)

Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;

Whose misadventur’d piteous overthrows

Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.

She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron

This poem is an example of poetic discourse. It was written after the authors encounter with his cousin whose beauty so moved, him he immediately went and wrote a poem about her. Words like “gaudy day denies” and “Thus mellowed to that tender light” are great examples of poetic discourse.  (Baldwin)

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that’s best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies. 

Sources

Van Dijk, T. A. (Ed.). (1997). Discourse as structure and process (Vol. 1). Sage. 

Smith, C. S. (2003). Modes of discourse: The local structure of texts. Cambridge UP. 

Baldwin, E., (2021, March 10). Discourse. Poem Analysis. Retrieved from https://poemanalysis.com/definition/discourse/ 

Adam Klusáček, 481063