Understanding Discourse; from Theory to Method

Critical discourse analysis presents a paradigmatic shift in the ways many scholars envisage studies related to critical linguis tics, education, health, politics and cultural studies from past 15 years. Norman Fairclough has been the most influential figure in presenting a coherent framework of analysis for same. The paper attempts to present related theoretical and methodological presumptions of the theorist aiming to infer a coherent and rationalized understanding of CDA The paper first introduces the term discourse and its conceptualizations as done from the perspective of attempting a social analysis. Then after by explicating a link between language and power the paper presents different discourse analysis schools that are present in academia. Then the paper introduces CDAas a perspective from Norman Fairclough's point of viewand reflects on its potentialities as a tool for cr itical social analysis. I n the same pursuit the paper also evaluates its difference from critical linguistics and post structuralism. Finally the paper attempts to conclude by quoting the criticisms of CDAand framing a response to them on the basis of the discussions done during the paper.