Critical Discourse Analysis and Language Ideologies: A Research Essay

This research essay delves into the multifaceted realm of language ideologies and their profound impact on social construction, exploring how these ideologies manifest in everyday speech. The paper meticulously examines how language variations intersect with gender, race, and political power dynamics, employing critical discourse analysis to uncover hidden ideologies and their influence on societal inequalities. It investigates the ways in which language ideologies shape gender identities, particularly within political leadership, and how women navigate the challenges of using language to effect social change. Furthermore, the essay analyzes the communication of race and ideology through language, highlighting media representations and political discourse that perpetuate stereotypes and prejudice. The paper also explores the relationship between political power and ideologies, demonstrating how language is utilized to control and dominate social relations. The essay concludes by summarizing the significant impact of discourse analysis, ideologies, and the role of language on social constructionism, gender inequalities, and the communication of race and political power.

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Into
Language is a tool which assists in communicating in a way that is comprehensible
and understandable by others. It provides a medium through which views and information
can be communicated in a way that others understand. Powerful language is, therefore, a
necessity for becoming independent and contributing to the community. The ability of an
individual to communicate in an effective manner in a given language denotes the language
power. It includes not only the ability to speak but also to listen and understand. This
research essay outlines ideologies in language and how they can be communicated in
everyday speech. This paper examines and provides evidence on ideologies that vary
through language. It also studies the ways in which critical discourse analysis and language
variation.
Critical discourse analysis is a regarded as an interdisciplinary approach that is based on
the discourse according to which language is regarded as a form of social practice.
Language and ideologies –
Discourse analysis, ideologies and the role of language can impact social
constructionism that examines social inequalities within the political sphere. Woolard
(1998, 20-25) explains language ideologies as sets of values and beliefs through a cultural
system by bringing together language and social practices. Language ideologies can be
found through the political and cultural spheres that can be interpreted to form stereotypes,
discrimination, and investigate further social inequalities.
The following example is how language ideologies merge with gender inequalities
and how women are perceived in politics and how ideologies of language are constructed.
Women are expected to communicate and show male assertiveness to be in political

leadership. Wright and Holland (2014, 3) define ‘the double bind’ as women who
demonstrate male qualities and compromise their feminine attributes.
To address gender and language ideologies and power relations, Eckert and
McConnell-Ginet (1992, 466) identify male power in language and the hierarchical relations
of gender differences within conversational practice and how gender is socially constructed.
By investigating language variation between males and females and theories of gender
conceptions and gender individualism can reflect social practice of how language can vary
between men and women. Language variation can influence gender identities and
implement social change. Women feel the need to use the male language traits to be in
political power to be able to impact social change (Eckert and McConnell-Ginet 1992, 472).
However, Lippi-Green (2011, 10) highlights that language changes over time, the structure
of words and how sentences are structured and there are situations that gender is not
indicated with the use of ‘they’, their, and them.
Women are still finding challenges within the political system to make social change.
The ideology of how governments still structure a ‘patriarchy system’and how there is still
male dominance in government and leadership and women are still being discriminated
because of their gender and feel they cannot voice their opinions without using masculine
traits. (Patel et al. 2020, 3). Women are still finding the need to use masculine traits to
make social change and voice their concerns on political issues. If women use ‘feminine
features with the language they use, then they can change society’s values and challenge
the stereotypes of women in power and more women will want to be in politics.
With further analysis and investigation of women in power, language ideologies, a
critical discourse analysis is used to examine spoken interaction and written data as a form
of social practice to find hidden ideologies (Cameron 2001, 121). For example, Julia Gillard
was the first female Prime Minister of Australia and gave an influential speech to parliament

and used agency to assert her power. Julia Gillard’s misogyny speech provided a future
path for women by addressing sexism, misogyny and positioning her authority and
challenging gender and leadership. Julia affirms her speech by highlighting sexism and
discrimination of Australian women, “What the housewives of Australia need to understand
as they do the ironing…” Thank you for that painting of women's roles in modern Australia ”
(“Transcript of Julia Gillard” 2012).
Using different methods to analyse spoken discourse, and the relationship between
gender and language can impact ideologies using different speaking styles and using
expression that can be used to promote power and solidarity,
Ideologies and Race
Race and ideology are communicated through language and how inequalities can be
represented through the media and politically motivated to reinforce stereotypes and form
prejudice with preconceived opinions. Hill (2008) outlines how linguistic ideologies are
shaped by ‘political and economic interests (Hill 2008, 31).
To understand linguistic ideologies, we examine further analogies of critical race
theory and folk race theory. These theories provide the necessary framework to explore
social inequalities that can be constituted and experienced through social inclusion, fear,
and resentment. Hill (2008, 5) explains folk theory as an investigation into everyday
experiences using ethnographic research. Using folk theory can challenge the stereotypes
formed and mistaken by providing evidence that can change perceptions and mistaken
identity. For example, Islam has religious beliefs within the Muslim community as had new
experiences of cultural racism and stereotyped as Islamophobia. This stereotype has been
a construction of otherness, which can be identified as a threat and not belonging. Hill
(2008, 7) explains critical race theory and that racism is a social construct. “Race is a social

and political fact and not a fact of human biology” (Hill 2008, 9). Critical race theorists have
been challenged through the legal system and can struggle to challenge perceived
injustices to make social change (Delgado and Stefancic 2017, 21).
Further, investigating racism within Australia and how the language is used to
communicate within political representation and media, critical race methodology is the first-
person narrative. It explains their experiences of discrimination, marginalization, and
oppression. For example, how asylum seekers and political ideologies are formed and how
the media have portrayed them. Most of these experiences that the media has not been
investigated are the complexities of what asylum seekers face, such as family separation,
resettlement than can face hardship, and having to start again within a new country and rely
on government resettlement programs (Wilmsen 2013, 245-246). Understanding linguistic
ideologies of how language is used in everyday media representation can be influenced by
the politics and can impact ideologies such as race and racism, and other social
inequalities.
PoliticalPower and Ideologies
Political power and ideologies of power are communicated through language and
how this impacts society organisations. Antonio, Berard and Holzcheiter (2011, 140)
explains the relationship between power and discourse. Political systems can influence
individuals and the power to control one another and dominate social relations. Analysis of
speech discourse and the power relationships makes use of language that can form
ideologies and change social constructionism.
The structures and strategies of ideologies can be identified in language by the
expression that is used such as word choice and phrases and the way they can be
interpreted.

Dijk (2006, 126) outlines key examples of using language, expression that can influence
ideologies within power. This outline provides a necessary framework for public discourse
that can influence individuals, Context – Text – Meaning – Form – Rhetorical Structures –
Action. By applying this framework politicians can emphasize on who they are addressing
and what words they will use to influence individuals, for example by using ‘form’, and
words such as Us/Them to emphasise positive meanings. This also involves using Action,
by using the words such as Our/Their to convey authority. These words can imply
good/bad as explained by Djik and this can create ideologies that are hidden through
political language. Fourclaigh (2010, 10) explains critical discourse analysis with further
analysis to CDA in relation to power, politics, and ideologies. This involves examining a
closer look to theorise language that is used in public discourse and how this will affect
social practice. CDA examines public discourse, and the power with language that is
communicated and how ideologies are interpreted through text (Fourclaigh 2010, 57).
Racism can also be disguised in patriotism through political discourse. This discourse can
underly racist remarks and use culture rather than biological fact. For example, Pauline
Hanson, leader of Australia One Nation party, has reportedly used patriotism with
dominance and power with the language she uses to communicate ideologies and race.
Pauline Hansen Quoted “We have a disease; we vaccinate ourselves against it. Islam is a
disease. We need to vaccinate ourselves against that”(9 Queensland, 2017). By analysing
public discourse with critical discourse analysis and these frameworks of how written and
spoken text that can be identified to locate language and ideologies in political power, can
be analysed.
Literature Review

Conclusion
From the essay it can be concluded that there is a significant impact of discourse analysis,
ideologies and role of language on constructionism. It can be concluded that language
ideologies merge with gender inequalities. In politics, women make efforts to fulfill the
expectations to communicate and demonstrate male assertiveness, which is required for
political leadership. Language variation has significant influence on the gender identities. In
order to make social change, women feel the need to make use of masculine traits.
Language ideologies find their use in examination of spoken interaction. The
communication of race as well as ideology is done through language. It also leads to
construction of racial identities. Further, language also works to communicate political
power and ideologies.

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