Discourse

The terms discourse and discourses mean many different things in different disciplines, and definitions vary across contexts. Discourse is considered by some in a broad sense as an exchange between people and their environment and the outcomes arising from such exchanges. It can [Page 606]equally be considered broadly to concern language, communication, meaning, and context. The different definitions reflect the continuing popularity and expansion of the field. The definitions are so abundant and varied that many textbooks focusing on discourse and discourse analysis open with a survey of existing definitions. The Latin word discursus, which became discourse in English, means “running to and fro,” from which derived the Medieval Latin meaning “argument” and later, “to speak at length.” A key word in relation to discourse is interdisciplinary. A wide variety of disciplines claim the term discourse including linguistics, anthropology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, philosophy, literary criticism, communication sciences, artificial intelligence, literary critics, critical theorists, philosophers, political scientists, sociologists, social psychologists, and many others. Whatever discourse is, and however concretely or abstractly the term is used, there is at least general agreement that it has to do with language, language use, meaning, and context. The notion of language use is also central to a definition of discourse as is language use as social practice. Discourse may refer to spoken or written language. This entry provides an overview of discourse and its importance, three perspectives on discourse, and why discourse is considered essential in the constitution of knowledge.