KARACHI:
Before critically evaluating Fairclough’s views on the role of language in the imposition of power and ideology, we need to understand the term “discourse” first. The term discourse refers to “text” and “talk” produced by the language we use. It can be understood in three ways. The first one is language beyond the sentence level. The second one is language used in communication either verbal or written. The third, language used as a social practice that includes both non-linguistic and non-specific instances. Thus, in order to unravel all of this, critical discourse analysis is used in different social context or situations to unveil the hidden or implicit ideology of the context or text.
Language and text play a vital role in manifesting, distinguishing, changing and even reproducing ideologies. Norman Fairclough was the only person who elucidated the relationship between power, language and ideology in his research in 1989. According to him, language is the most powerful tool in order to impose power and ideology onto society. The argument is that when ideology becomes a daily discourse it will seem more natural and real. It can, therefore, be said that sociolinguistics languages are closely associated with power. The dialect of elite groups determines the elite position in society. It is through linguistics that power ideology is imposed on the less powerful ethno-linguistic groups. Power involves control and control leads to action and cognition. A power elite group may narrow their liberty as well in order to have influence on the masses for their own interests.
Naimatullah Gadhi
Khairpur Mirs
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2021.
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