Power over discourse in the memory narrative. The case of the Oral History Archive Cover Image

Władza nad dyskursem w narracji wspomnieniowej. Przypadek Archiwum Historii Mówionej
Power over discourse in the memory narrative. The case of the Oral History Archive

Author(s): Bernadetta Ciesek-Ślizowska, Beata Duda, Katarzyna Sujkowska-Sobisz
Subject(s): Theoretical Linguistics, Applied Linguistics
Published by: Instytut Germanistyki Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: oral history; critical discourse analysis (CDA); memory narratives; knowledge and power;

Summary/Abstract: The article analyzes communication strategies that reveal the knowledge of and power over a memory narrative connected to The Warsaw Uprising – one of the most crucial events for Poland, and in the history of World War II. The interviews carried out with insurgents and civilians – participants of the 1944 events, constituted the base for the research. Over 1,900 verbal activities of people conducting meetings with witnesses of history were subjected to a detailed review. The authors of the article were primarily interested in these activities’ influence on the shape of the memory narrative. The interpretation of the collected material is accomplished within the confines of critical discourse analysis which focuses on the relationship of knowledge and power as manifested in specific ways language is used.

  • Issue Year: 2020
  • Issue No: 13
  • Page Range: 63-79
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Polish