discourse
DIS-kors
/ˈdɪs.kɔːrs/
Written or spoken communication or debate on a formal subject within an intellectual community.
Refers to formal, structured intellectual exchange and the overarching linguistic systems framing a topic.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin discursus, meaning 'a running to and fro' (from dis- 'apart' + currere 'to run'). The metaphor shifted over centuries from physical running to the mind moving back and forth across a topic during formal debate.
Word relationships
- dialogue: Dialogue usually emphasizes a two-way conversation, whereas discourse encompasses a broader field of cultural or scholarly discussion.
- dissertation: A dissertation is a specific long written paper, whereas discourse refers to ongoing written or spoken exchanges.
- silence: Silence represents the total absence of communication.
Commonly confused with
- discord: Discord means disagreement or strife, while discourse refers to intellectual debate or communication.
Word family
- discourses (verb): Speaks or writes authoritatively on a topic.
- discoursive (adjective): Relating to discourse or reasoning from premises to conclusions.
Collocations
- public discourse
- academic discourse
- political discourse
- discourse analysis
Example sentences
- "Discourse is not simply that which translates struggles or systems of domination, but the thing for which and by which there is struggle." Sociology & Philosophy
- "The professor analyzed public political discourse during the election campaign to identify recurring rhetorical tropes." Political Science
Memory hook
Discourse is when discussion courses through a scholarly community. Ideas running back and forth in debate.
When not to use
Do not use for casual chit-chat, daily small talk, or informal gossip.
Fun facts
- In medieval Latin, discursus referred to military maneuvers before evolving into a rhetorical term for formal arguments.
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