Cambridge University Press Discourse and Knowledge: A Sociocognitive Approach

Most of our knowledge is acquired by discourse, and our ability to produce and understand discourse is impossible without the activation of massive amounts of knowledge of the world. Both 'discourse' and 'knowledge' are fundamental concepts of the humanities and social sciences, but they are often treated separately. Based on a theory of natural knowledge, the book deals with the cognitive processes, social distribution, cultural differences and the linguistic and discursive 'management' of knowledge in interaction and communication in epistemic communities. The first book to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to studying the relationship between the two concepts, Discourse and Knowledge introduces the new field of epistemic discourse analysis. Using a wide range of examples to illustrate the theory, it is essential reading for both students and academics interested in epistemology, linguistics, discourse analysis, cognitive and social psychology and the social sciences. Review 'A real treasure for anybody interested in the intricate complexities of human knowledge.' Ruth Wodak, Distinguished Professor of Discourse Studies, Lancaster University'A wide-ranging study of the mutual dependence of knowledge and discourse, including a valuable review of relevant studies in a variety of disciplines and new insights into how these studies can be brought together.' Wallace Chafe, Research Professor of Linguistics, University of California, Santa Barbara Book Description Introduces the new field of epistemic discourse analysis and uses a wide range of examples to illustrate the theory. About the Author Teun A. van Dijk was a professor at the University of Amsterdam until 2004 and then at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, until his retirement in 2014. For details of his previous publications, see his website, www.discourses.org.