Discourse analysis

This chapter is written as a guide for readers who want to use systemic functional linguistics (SFL) to analyse discourse, for the wide range of contexts and purposes in which discourse plays a significant role. This gives rise to a double focus: on discourse as an important object of study for many approaches, and on SFL as an especially valuable set of resources for this purpose. The chapter argues that there is a natural alliance between SFL and one leading brand of discourse analysis, critical discourse analysis (CDA). This alliance could be taken fut1her than it has to date, to benefit both. To illustrate, the chapter will illustrate how well SFL tools and concepts carry out the main tasks of CDA. It also suggests lessons for SFL from CDA that could enhance a common practice