Discourse Is Close Connected To Power By Foucault

Discourse, following Foucault, is close connected to power (Foucault. 1990: 92-95, Jorgensen & Phillips, 2002; 14). The notion of “power,*7 on discourse discipline, refers to various levels of “the ability to control” people and society by means of language (Van Dijk, 2004; 355). Some people employ discourse to gain “power” in term of “influence.” In this level, they constitute some words or the order of language to influence or persuade people*ร perception, belief, attitude, and so forth; as well as to influence social phenomena or atmosphere. Some manipulate language to “construct or reconstruct,” “produce or reproduce” a new thing, situation or event. For instance, the war has emerged after the president declared the war between the countries,
the formality IS manifested over time and space after the chairperson presided over and opened the ceremony or meeting, the right and status of a couple have changed after the legislator or the priest nominates wife and husband in the wedding ceremony and so on. This is the power of language-in action in the social world (Gee, 1999: 11).