Critical discourse analysis (CDA) and language planning (LP): Constraints and applications of the critical in language planning

Abstract

This chapter explores aspects of the relation between critical discourse analysis and language planning. These two broad sub-fields of applied linguistics have close connections with socio-linguistics but are only rarely applied together. However critical textual analysis can play a vital role in democratically oriented projects of language policy. Drawing on recent Australian experience in language the chapter discusses some of the aims and methods of critical discourse analysis, but argues that too many critical language projects have adopted a relentlessly critical disposition and have devoted too little attention to productive or positive projects of discourse analysis proposing alternat..