ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Critical discourse analysis

Critical discourse analysis is a way of studying language. It looks at how language is used in real situations and how this impacts people's thoughts and actions. It looks at the meanings behind words and phrases, the relationships between people during conversations and the context in which conversations take place. It focuses on power, who has it and how it is used. This helps us understand how language can be used to bring about change or reinforce existing power structures.