Topoi in Critical Discourse Analysis
Topos (topoi in plural) is one of the most widely-used concepts from classical argumentation theory (dating back to Aristotle and Cicero). It found its way not only in philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and linguistics; it found its way in everyday life and everyday conversation as well.
In this article, I will examine the role that topoi play in Critical Discourse Analysis. Starting with definitions from Aristotle and Cicero, contrasting them with new conceptualisations by Perelman and Toulmin, and examining the superficial use of topoi in everyday conversation, I will try to show that Critical Discourse Analysis (especially Ruth Wodak's Discourse-Historical Approach) relies mostly on simplified, unreflected use of topoi as found in everyday use, thus neglecting much more productive, theoretical elaborations of the concept.
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