Critical Discourse Analysis of Intercultural Communication through the Lens of Multiculturality and Interraciality

Abstract

Recent research on Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) has focused on the identity construction of agents within discourse. This study delves into intercultural communication through the lens of multiculturality and interraciality. Employing the CDA framework, the research investigates how online Filipino Chinese writers construct their identities and those of their readers, examining the dynamics of dominance and subordination in selected intercultural discourse. The study is guided by three central questions: how online intercultural writers position themselves in terms of their social identities, how the relationship between the writer and readers is linguistically realized, and how the representations and relationships of the writer and reader manifest in terms of discursive strategies. By concentrating on identity construction through the analysis of linguistic items, the study offers critical discourse analysts an alternative method for unveiling power and dominance in written texts. Furthermore, the examination of discursive strategies allows this CDA study to perceive texts as dual in nature, serving not only as a means for writers to influence their readers but also as instruments to endorse ostensibly positive values. In conclusion, the study presents an approach for analyzing intercultural discourse, enriching the field of CDA with a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between writer, reader, and text within the rich tapestry of intercultural communication.