1. What is discourse analysis?

1.1. Discourse versus Text:

There has been some confusion regarding the distinction between “Discourse” and “Text”.
However, in our lesson the core idea claims that: discourse is language in action (or
interaction); the text is the written (grammatical and meaningful) record of that interaction.

Discourse
 A continuous stretch of (especially
spoken) language larger than a
sentence, often constituting a
coherent unit, such as a sermon,'
argument, joke or narrative.
 Stretches of language perceived
to be meaningful, unified, and
purposive.
Text
 A piece of naturally occurring
spoken, written, or signed
discourse identified for purposes
of analysis. It is often a language
unit with a definable
communicative function, such as a
conversation, a poster.
 We shall use text as a technical
term, to refer to the verbal
record of a communicative act.
 A stretch of language
interpreted formally, without
context.

1.2. Different Views of Discourse Analysis:

2. Types of Context:

2.1. Situational Context:

Is what the speakers know about what they can see around them. In a common situation, a
signal of situational context is the use of this or that to identify an object, or again a use of
pictures in a story that add a visible context.

2.2. Background Knowledge Context:

Is what the speakers know about each other and the world. This can be cultural (areas of their
life, special lexis or vocabulary) or interpersonal (history of the speakers themselves, because of
the joint activities or experiences).

2.3. Co-textual Context:

Is the context of the text itself. The language is used to refer to something and the word that
point to entity that they refer to is DEIXIS. There're three sorts of deixis; PERSONAL DEIXIS when
pointing a person (personal pronoun), PLACE DEIXIS to point a location (demonstrative adverbs,
there...) and TIME DEIXIS to point to a time (next day...).

3. Differences between Spoken and Written Discourse:

Biber (1986, 1988) discusses a number of commonly - held views on differences between
spoken and written language, some of which are true for some spoken and written genres, but
are false for others.