Discourse analysis in linguistics: Concepts, evolution, and methodological challenges

Abstract

This article critically explores discourse analysis (DA) within linguistics, focusing on its conceptual ambiguities, methodological complexities, and historical evolution. The study addresses four fundamental questions: (1) What is meant by discourse analysis? (2) What semantic and methodological differences distinguish discourse analysis from related fields such as conversation analysis, content analysis, and text analysis? (3) How can we distinguish between the various perspectives on discourse analysis? (4) What are the key historical milestones that have shaped the development of discourse analysis in linguistics?  Employing a three-pronged qualitative approach—descriptive, comparative, and historical—the research investigates DA’s varying interpretations across different linguistic traditions, with particular emphasis on the contributions of enunciation theory. The findings reveal that while DA's definition adapts according to the theoretical and methodological orientations, its central focus on language use remains consistent. This is demonstrated through the nuanced distinctions between DA and related fields, such as content analysis, text analysis, and conversation analysis, which, though similarly concerned with language and communication, diverge in their methods, theoretical foundations, and disciplinary applications. The research concludes that DA is inherently interdisciplinary, integrating insights from multiple linguistic and cognitive domains, thus defying classification within a single theoretical tradition. Tracing DA’s historical development, the paper identifies three transformative stages: the foundational Saussurean phase, the Harrisian structuralist period, and the post-1968 intellectual shift in France, which marked a transition from structural linguistics to a more dynamic focus on discourse and meaning.