CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF DIETS AND DISEASES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RESEARCH AND MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS

Abstract

The purpose of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is to serve as a critical analytical tool that not only identifies social problems but also provides in-depth descriptions and alternative solutions to address wrong social practices. Advancement in knowledge has brought attention to the crucial issue of health and has altered the views of the masses on neo-liberalism and healthcare agencies. As a CDA analyst, I examined the discourses related to Diabetes Type 2 in order to identify social wrongs. The present study has conducted a comparative analysis of discourses employed by different health bodies, including medical research articles and associations. The focus is given on non-communicable diseases specially reated to diet patterns, which are responsible for high rates of deaths and illnesses globally, according to organizations like WHO (2003) and Britannica (2019). One of the most common dietary diseases worldwide, Type 2 Diabetes is being analyzed. Ten articles for each disease from both; research journals and medical associations published in the last 10 years have been  selected for analysis. The study has employed a combination of Fairclough's (2012; 2018) models and Dijk's (1977;1995) regarding semantic macro rules and strategies. The analysis revealed differences and underlying ideologies behind them. Moreover, this study endorses CDA as a dialectical approach that first identifies social wrongs, then explains the reasons behind them and proposes relevant solutions to address them, with the goal of creating a better society.