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Links
and Entanglements
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Tool - Links and Entanglements
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Toolbox section
2, Relationship between Discourses |
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Theory - The nature of discourse strands.
Discourse strands can be imagined as varying from thick
ropes to thin filaments, and from large chunks to small
text fragments. We generally "all knit along together"
producing and developing discourse, and it is almost
inevitably that we either deliberately build in links
with other discourse, or accidentally produce links
The types of links between discourse strands can be
described in many ways - as simple links, as knots,
as tangles, as patterns of interrelationship. The link
or entanglement can also be described in terms of other
characteristics, such as tight, loose, complex or simple
knots, etc.
These concepts can open up useful lines of discussion
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| Example:- in the Aims, it is stated "MAFF has
the following Aim: good quality food which meets consumers requirements,
modern sustainable, competitive farming and fisheries businesses,
and protection of the rural and marine environment and a
thriving rural economy". The phrase in bold text is a good
example of links in discourse - it makes a connection from "farming
and fisheries" to discourse strands on modernity, sustainability,
competitiveness and business, and each of these words represents
another major discourse - they are currently some of the most
important world-wide discourses. In fact, in the Aims and Objectives
text, many of the words used represents another discourse, but
not often to the extent of this 7 word phrase. The authors might
claim that this 'places' the aims and objectives in a wider
picture, but it also creates entanglement. |
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Interpretation and Discussion. Links and entanglements
are part of the essential nature of discourse, as described
above (I also describe discourse more fully in
this section).
The discourse strand can be imagined as varying from
thick ropes to thin filaments, and from large chunks to small
text fragments. In this case, the discourse seems strong,
but not especially 'heavy'. There are many concepts woven
together, but these are short phrases on each topic - little
is developed from them.
Types of links between discourse strands can be described
in many ways - as simple links, as knots, as tangles, as patterns
of interrelationship. In this case, the individual links are
usually simple rather than being heavily knotted, however
there is a very high level of linkage building, so the the
overall effect is of a fairly solid knot.
Other characteristics, such as tight, loose, complex
or simple knots, etc. This passage seems generally to be firmly
written and connected to other discourses, however, the linkages
are very extensive.
However, we must assume that every element of this text has
been worked on by many individuals, groups, committees and
experts, up to the highest level of government, so it is unlikely
that any aspect of it is unconscious - we must imagine that
the entanglements are there deliberately, and that they serve
a purpose.
Therefore, it might be more accurate to describe this passage
("modern sustainable, competitive farming and fisheries
businesses") as the naming of 4 major external
discourses. This might be done to impress or satisfy some
of the readers, and also to place the government is
a context in a way which satisfies them. Perhaps it is also
a 'knowing' example of "the great milling mass"
of discourse and the way that all parts of the "milling
mass" are interconnected, and thus an expression of the
government's sophistication. It is certainly a major statement
of the Government's apparent (unwritten) aim of inclusiveness
- it seems that one of their major techniques is to recruit
and incluide all possible opinions, and to bind them in so
that they join a process rather than oppose.
This may be a lot to read into a 7 word phrase, however this
is an exploratory stage of the analysis. As an outsider, it
is useful to open up some of these new possibilities and ideas,
and it might be possible to carry forward these new ideas
to form a new picture of what is going on. Further research
using the other techniques in the toolbox or insider information
might be needed to give a definitive answer.
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More Notes on Entanglement
A text is seldom simple and must be described in a complex way.
For example, with the sample text, the aims and objectives strand
can be seen as part of a 'rope' of 'discourse fibres' - these fibres
can be visualised as the discourses about the government view of
its own role and purpose (and the views of others about this), national
administration discourses, 'new government' philosophy, targets,
budgets, internal developments, influencing the media, being influenced
by lobby groups from environment, industry and consumers. etc.
Some of these are special 'inside the Government' discourses (the
administrative and new government dimension), others are discourses
of 'government and governed' (green and business lobbies), others
are 'outside world' discourses (relationship to the EU).
This visualisation of discourse strands helps us in a number of
ways -
- by widening the way we look at important factors of what is going
on
- by focussing more narrowly on what the exact purposes of the document
are
However, the situation is very complex, and one of the ways to deal
with the complexity is to imagine entanglements that exist. To define
these exactly is almost impossible, however, it is possible to develop
a typology of the entanglements, using such terms as tight, loose,
knotted, complex, simple, etc to describe the entanglement
There are also other broad classes of discourses in the background
- discourses about the nature of government, about the relationship
between blocs such as business, environment, consumers, the media,
and even about the nature of aims and objectives. Aim A2 is also
an example of "the great milling mass" of discourse and
the way that all parts of the "milling mass" are interconnected.
1. Overview. Before describing the discourse strand in detail,
it is worth mentioning the following points:-
a. nearly every word in this text represents another major discourse.
Taking this further, one could propose that the main purpose of
the text is to collect and balance the external discourses which
are most important in the opinion of the government. This could
be a useful definition of government - it chooses the most important
discourses for a society and applies them !
2. from a discourse perspective, everything should be seen in the
context of "the great milling mass" which dominates all
communication. The government has selected the parts of this "milling
mass" that it deals with. This is 'a given' which is difficult
to challenge, and it affects the analyses which can be made.
3. Location of strand. This strand can be described as the UK Government
'aims and objectives' discourse strand for environment, food and
rural affairs (the responsibilities of the former MAFF). However,
this is like the tip of an iceberg - there are clearly many discourses
and much background knowledge contained in this passage.
4. Although this may be the most important text (and strand) in
the entire output of the Ministry, one can ask if there is a 'special
substance' that makes this strand more important than any other.
The answer to this question is that this strand may operate at a
more inclusive and influential level than other strands, but there
does not seem to be anything 'special' about it beyond the way it
is presented as a key to the Departmental report.
To try to characterise it further, it does not seem like a 'strong
strand' on which administrative decisions depend, it is more presentational.
However, it appears to be the cornerstone of the public service
agreements, but it is debatable if these are also more presentational
than effective in creating change.
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