DISCOURSE & SOCIETY

Scope & Guideline

Advancing Understanding of Language and Social Change

Introduction

Welcome to the DISCOURSE & SOCIETY information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of DISCOURSE & SOCIETY, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0957-9265
PublisherSAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1990 to 2024
AbbreviationDISCOURSE SOC / niscl. Soc.
Frequency6 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address1 OLIVERS YARD, 55 CITY ROAD, LONDON EC1Y 1SP, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

DISCOURSE & SOCIETY is dedicated to the exploration and analysis of discourse in various social contexts, emphasizing the intricate relationship between language, power, and society. The journal aims to provide a platform for critical discourse analysis and encourages interdisciplinary research that examines the role of language in shaping social phenomena.
  1. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA):
    The journal emphasizes the importance of critical discourse analysis, exploring how language constructs and reflects power dynamics, ideology, and social inequalities across diverse contexts.
  2. Interdisciplinary Approaches:
    DISCOURSE & SOCIETY promotes research that integrates methodologies from linguistics, sociology, political science, media studies, and cultural studies, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of discourse.
  3. Focus on Social Issues:
    The journal consistently addresses pressing social issues such as race, gender, immigration, health, and neoliberalism, investigating how these themes manifest in public discourse and influence societal attitudes.
  4. Multimodal Discourse Analysis:
    Recognizing the importance of various communicative modes, the journal includes studies that analyze visual, verbal, and other semiotic resources, reflecting the complexity of contemporary communication.
  5. Global and Local Perspectives:
    DISCOURSE & SOCIETY explores both global discourses and localized narratives, considering how global phenomena are interpreted and represented in specific cultural contexts.
Recent publications in DISCOURSE & SOCIETY reveal emerging themes that signal evolving research interests and societal dynamics. This section outlines the trending areas that have gained traction, reflecting the journal's responsiveness to contemporary discourse challenges.
  1. Digital Discourse and Social Media:
    There is a significant increase in studies examining the role of social media in shaping discourse, particularly in contexts of activism, misinformation, and public health. This reflects the growing importance of digital platforms in contemporary communication.
  2. Health Discourse in Crisis Contexts:
    The COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed a surge in research focused on health discourse, particularly how language is used to navigate public health messaging, stigma, and community responses during health crises.
  3. Neoliberalism and Social Justice:
    Emerging themes related to neoliberalism and its impact on social justice are prevalent, with researchers critically analyzing how neoliberal ideologies shape discourse around education, welfare, and economic policies.
  4. Environmental Discourse and Climate Change:
    Research on environmental discourse, particularly regarding climate change communication, has gained momentum. Scholars are increasingly examining how language shapes public perceptions and policy responses related to ecological issues.
  5. Identity and Intersectionality:
    Studies focusing on identity construction and intersectionality are trending, particularly in the context of race, gender, and sexuality, as researchers explore the complexities of identity in public and political discourse.

Declining or Waning

While DISCOURSE & SOCIETY has maintained a robust focus on critical discourse analysis and sociolinguistics, certain themes appear to be declining in prominence within recent publications. This section highlights these waning scopes, reflecting shifts in research priorities and societal relevance.
  1. Traditional Media Discourse:
    As digital media and social platforms gain dominance, the focus on traditional media discourse is waning. Fewer studies are examining print or broadcast media, as researchers increasingly explore online discourses.
  2. Static Ideological Analyses:
    There is a noticeable decline in studies that offer static or overly simplistic ideological analyses without considering the dynamic nature of discourse. This shift indicates a preference for more nuanced, context-sensitive approaches.
  3. Historical Discourse Analysis:
    Research that predominantly focuses on historical discourse is less frequent, as contemporary issues and real-time discourse analysis become more relevant in the evolving media landscape.
  4. Localised Cultural Studies:
    While DISCOURSE & SOCIETY has historically included localized cultural analyses, there appears to be a shift towards broader, global themes, leading to a decline in studies focusing solely on specific local contexts.

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