Argumentation Theory and Discourse Analysis

Argumentation theory and discourse analysis jointly examine how speakers and writers construct, interpret and evaluate arguments within communicative settings. Argumentation theory offers models for the structure and evaluation of reasoning, ranging from formal frameworks to pragma-dialectical approaches that view argumentative discourse as a critical discussion aimed at resolving differences. Discourse analysis investigates the linguistic, rhetorical and contextual features of texts and conversations, revealing how meaning is negotiated, power is enacted and social identities are shaped. Together, these fields inform research on political debate, legal reasoning, scientific communication and digital interaction, providing tools to analyse persuasion, fallacies and interactional patterns. Practical applications include the design of educational interventions to foster critical thinking, the development of computational systems for argument mining and the enhancement of collaborative deliberation in multicultural settings.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have extended the pragma-dialectical model to intercultural contexts, recognising that dialogue across cultures involves unique rhetorical and pragmatic dynamics. One key development expands the model’s analytical apparatus by integrating Burke’s concept of “identification” and by shifting from narrow speech-act categories to broader “pragmatic acts.” In addition, researchers have proposed new stages within the argumentation process—namely motivation and mediation—highlighting how individual aims and third-party interventions influence the negotiation of meaning. A detailed case study illustrates that discussants motivated to find common ground employ appropriate pragmatic acts and that mediation can shape both their motivation and their communicative strategies. This modified framework promises to capture a wider range of intercultural exchanges and to support more nuanced analyses of global debates.

Argumentation Theory and Discourse Analysis publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in argumentation theory and discourse analysis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Discourse analysis: The examination of language use in texts and conversations to uncover how meaning, power and social relations are constructed.

Pragma-dialectical theory: A normative model viewing argumentation as a structured critical discussion with stages designed to resolve disagreements.

Argument scheme: A prototypical pattern of premises and inferential steps that underlie commonly used types of arguments.

Critical question: A targeted query aimed at probing the validity, relevance or sufficiency of an argument scheme instance.

Argument Web: An integrated ecosystem of representational standards and digital tools for modelling, sharing and analysing argument structures.

Subdiscussion: A directed argumentative exchange that re-evaluates underlying premises or assumptions within a larger debate.

References

1. Pragma-dialectical perspective to intercultural discussion as communicative activity. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2023).
2. Translational argument technology: Engineering a step change in the argument web. Journal of Web Semantics (2023).
3. Schemes, Critical Questions, and Complete Argument Evaluation. Argumentation (2020).
4. Twitter Activists’ Argumentation Through Subdiscussions: Theory, Method and Illustration of the Controversy Surrounding Sustainable Fashion. Argumentation (2022).