Discursive Pragmatics: A Critical Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31185/wjfh.Vol22.Iss1.1511Keywords:
discursive pragmatics, ideology, transitivity, appraisal, meaning negotiationAbstract
Discursive Pragmatics (DP) is an interdisciplinary approach that studies the role of discourse in constructing and negotiating meaning and how ideological framing may affect interpretation. This qualitative critical review addresses two questions: (1) How has DP developed theoretically and methodologically? and (2) What are its main contributions and limitations in contemporary discourse studies? The review provides a systematic overview of the historical evolution of DP, its key theoretical foundations, methodological inclinations, and major areas of application within discourse studies. Methodologically, the review adopts a qualitative analytical synthesis of key academic literature. The review highlights the role of DP in contextualised meaning-making and examines how identity, positioning, power relations, and evaluative stance are negotiated in interaction. It concludes that, despite the theoretical richness, DP still requires greater methodological pluralism to strengthen its explanatory power in both traditional and digitally mediated forms of communicative practice.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Asst. Lect. Rasha Hilal Kareem
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