Wodak Ruth et al. The Discursive Construction of National Identity

Ruth Wodak, Rudolf de Cillia, Martin Reisigl and Karin Liebhart. — Second Edition. — Edinburgh University Press, 2009. — 276 p.How do we construct national identities in discourse? Which topics, which discursive strategies and which linguistic devices are employed to construct national sameness and uniqueness on the one hand, and differences to other national collectives on the other hand? The Discursive Construction of National Identity analyses discourses of national identity in Europe with particular attention to Austria.
In the tradition of critical discourse analysis, the authors analyse current and on-going transformations in the self-and other definition of national identities using an innovative interdisciplinary approach which combines discourse-historical theory and methodology and political science perspectives. Thus, the rhetorical promotion of national identification and the discursive construction and reproduction of national difference on public, semi-public and semi-private levels within a nation state are analysed in much detail and illustrated with a huge amount of examples taken from many genres (speeches, focus-groups, interviews, media, and so forth).
In addition to the critical discourse analysis of multiple genres accompanying various commemorative and celebratory events in 1995, this extended and revised edition is able to draw comparisons with similar events in 2005. The impact of socio-political changes in Austria and in the European Union is also made transparent in the attempts of constructing hegemonic national identities.Preface to the Second, Extended Edition.
Acknowledgements.The Discursive Construction of National Identity.
On Austrian Identity: The Scholarly Literature.
The Public Arena: Commemorative Speeches and Addresses.
Semi-Public Discussions: The Focus Group Interviews.
Semi-Private Opinions: The Qualitative Interviews.
Conclusion: Imagined and Real Identities – the Multiple Faces of the homo nationalis.
The ‘Story’ Continues: 1995–.
Appendices:
Speeches Studied in Chapter.
Speeches and Interviews Studied in Chapter.