Language and Power

Language is not merely a neutral tool for communication — it is a mechanism through which power is exercised, negotiated, and resisted. This lesson examines the relationship between language and power, drawing on the work of Fairclough, Foucault, and others to explore how language constructs and maintains social hierarchies. You will analyse power in discourse (how power operates within interactions) and power behind discourse (the institutional structures that shape what can and cannot be said).

Key Definition: Power in the context of language study refers to the ability of individuals or institutions to influence, control, or constrain the behaviour, beliefs, and communication of others through linguistic means.

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Types of Power

Fairclough (1989) distinguished between two fundamental types of power:

Instrumental Power

Key Definition: Instrumental power is power that is explicitly enforced through authority, rules, and institutions. It involves one party directly controlling or constraining another's behaviour.

Examples of instrumental power include:

• A judge instructing a jury.
• A police officer issuing a caution.
• A teacher setting homework.
• An employer giving a direct order to an employee.