ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the socio-cognitive analysis of some of the discursive structures of the editorial in the Telegraph and observes how these structures are controlled by underlying models, knowledge, attitudes and ideologies. Critical Discourse Studies typically goes beyond such a classical study of the structural properties of text or talk, and relates these discourse structures to social structures. A socio-cognitive approach to discourse is a particular application of a more general theory or philosophy of social constructionism, which holds that social and political 'reality' are constructions of social members. Socio-cognitive Discourse Studies more broadly relates discourse structures to social structures via a complex socio-cognitive interface. The lexical appraisal system and its coherence are thus based on the opinions in the mental model. These opinions are applications in some situation of more general underlying norms and values, about good and bad government in general, and about immigration policies in particular.
