Critical discourse analysis

CDA is a type of analytical discourse that studies the way that power, dominance and inequality are enacted and reproduced. Discourse in "language social practice determined by social structures". 

Social practice is that language is a part of society, and not external to it; language is a social process that is conditioned by other parts of society. For example, social historical context of the N word, conditioned to be racist. 

Beliefs of CDA:

• Power relations are discursive
• Discourse is ideological & constitutes society and culture. 
• Discourse is historical and a form of social action. 
• The analysis of discourse is interperitive and explanatory. 

Themes addressed in critical discourse analysis: 

- language + power 

- gender 

- advertisements 

- capitalism 

- politics 

- law 

- discrimination + racism 

CDA is allegedly used by historians, lawyers, business institutions- jobs involving analysis of a text.