A review of Two Prominent Approaches to Critical Linguistics

The current study reviews two prominent approaches within the realm of critical linguistics, Critical Discourse Analysis and Critical Stylistics. It is known that Critical Stylistics and Critical Discourse unearth ideologies represented in the texts. These approaches are used in a wide manner to involve, as much as it is possible, various types of discourse. The present study aims to provide a critical review of these two approaches as used in different types of contexts. Also, it aims to show the differences and similarities between them. The review explained that these two approaches complete each other even though there is huge variation between the two approaches. While Critical Discourse Analysis answers to analyze language in terms of its socio-political dimensions, Critical Stylistics demonstrates with evidence that it uses the co-text (i.e., linguistic context) when referring to the concept of context. Both of these two approaches are necessary for the hand of the critical analyst to language. Due to that, this study traces the diversity and usefulness of those two approaches. The finding shows that Critical Discourse Analysis emphasizes power relations in opposition to Critical Stylistics.