On critical linguistics

Abstract

This article presents an overview of critical linguistics (CL). CL emerged at the end of the 1970s as an instrumental linguistics in the line proposed by Halliday, formulating an analysis of public discourse designed to get at the ideology coded implicitly behind overt propositions, particularly in the context of social formations. The proponents of this linguistic model are concerned to use linguistic analysis to expose misrepresentation and discrimination in a variety of modes of public discourse: newspapers, political propaganda, official documents, regulations, formal genres such as interviews, etc. I also point out here the difficulties, unclarities, and the lack of a plan for further development of the area. Major problems remain with critical linguistics, on both theory and method, as well as application. However, my aim with these brief notes is to make the point that major development is possible in basic aspects of critical linguistics: in formulating a more inclusive concept of ideology-in-language, with an attendant methodology; and in regularising the study of the historical or contextual dimension.