Organizational Discourse: A Language-Ideology-Power Perspective

(Hardback)

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Merges management theory with linguistics to redefine the current understanding of organizational discourse This work supplies a concrete definition of Corporate Public Discourse, an idea that has always lacked true character. It explores how leading corporations use their own "special language" to define their cultures. The authors take this language, once considered a mere embellishment of speech, and use it to explore the inner workings of world-renowned organizations. This book bridges the gap between organizational studies and linguistics by analysing the communications of today's top companies. The book describes a weekly Saturday morning meeting at Wal-Mart, evaluates IBM's commitment to success, and looks into the social role of high-calibre CEOs. Broken into seven parts, including management, media, and analysis, the study efficiently frames the importance of corporate communication. * The first work to clearly define the concept of Corporate Public Discourse * Applies linguistics to the issue of 'corporate-speak'

Reviews

If....[y]ou are studying how corporations and their CEOs are able to exert power, often in constructive and positive ways, through language embedded in common business processes and tools, then the book is a valuable find. Simply put, the value of the work is more obvious in a university than a boardroom....[O]rganization discourse: A language-ideology-power perspective is a solid academic study and a less sturdy practitioner's handbook. It does, however, lend value to either type of work. For what it lacks in expansiveness it makes up in striking insights.-Technical Communication
To describe the discourse of corporations and their employees, the authors draw on theoretical linguistics, sociolinguistics, critical discourse studies, the theory of ideology, the ethnography of communication and media and organizational studies. They then develop a theory of discourse from a language-ideology-power perspective, which they apply to specific examples, such as IBM and Shell. They also discuss the adaptation of corporate discourse to issues of globalization and gender.-Reference & Research Book News
"If....you are studying how corporations and their CEOs are able to exert power, often in constructive and positive ways, through language embedded in common business processes and tools, then the book is a valuable find. Simply put, the value of the work is more obvious in a university than a boardroom....Organization discourse: A language-ideology-power perspective is a solid academic study and a less sturdy practitioner's handbook. It does, however, lend value to either type of work. For what it lacks in expansiveness it makes up in striking insights."-Technical Communication
"To describe the discourse of corporations and their employees, the authors draw on theoretical linguistics, sociolinguistics, critical discourse studies, the theory of ideology, the ethnography of communication and media and organizational studies. They then develop a theory of discourse from a language-ideology-power perspective, which they apply to specific examples, such as IBM and Shell. They also discuss the adaptation of corporate discourse to issues of globalization and gender."-Reference & Research Book News
"If....[y]ou are studying how corporations and their CEOs are able to exert power, often in constructive and positive ways, through language embedded in common business processes and tools, then the book is a valuable find. Simply put, the value of the work is more obvious in a university than a boardroom....[O]rganization discourse: A language-ideology-power perspective is a solid academic study and a less sturdy practitioner's handbook. It does, however, lend value to either type of work. For what it lacks in expansiveness it makes up in striking insights."-Technical Communication

Author Bio

RENATA FOX is Associate Professor at the University of Rijeka, Croatia, where she teaches English, German, and Business Communication. JOHN FOX holds a doctoral degree in communication and media and has taught English at a number of universities.