A critical discourse analysis of short story a“Nada” = Phân tích diễn ngôn phê phán truyện ngắn “Nada”

Tóm tắt

This thesis conducts a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of Judith Ortiz Cofer’s short story “Nada” within the context of postwar America. The research investigates how language use in the text reflects cultural and societal values of the time period. Drawing on Voloshinov’s ideas in “Marxism and Philosophy of Language”; “Discourse in Life and Discourse in Art” and applying the technical frameworks developed by later thinkers, the study explores the linguistic and discursive features of “Nada”, focusing on themes of identity negotiation, power dynamics, and cultural hybridity among Puerto Rican immigrants. Through an analysis of dialogic interactions and the examination of linguistic signs, the thesis uncovers the complex ways in which language shapes and reflects social realities. The findings highlight the nuanced ways in which characters’ utterances embody dominant discourses and ideologies, shedding light on the struggles of immigrant communities to navigate and assert their cultural identities within a larger societal context. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the immigrant experience and underscores the importance of linguistic analysis in uncovering the underlying dynamics of power and identity in literary texts.