Genre,Intertextuality And Subject Position In Discourse

With the emergence of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) in1970s, intertextuality has become a very popular critical concept, the theories of which have been widely applied to research on common discourses (especially non-literary discourses).Generic intertextuality is one of the basic features of discourses and the phenomenon of intertextuality, it refers to the blend and fusion of various styles, registers or generic characteristics. The analysis on genre is indispensable to the analysis on intertextuality and discourse analysis.In recent years, the enthusiasm of research on intertextuality and generic intertextuality didn’t dwindle, and its accomplishments still emerge in pretty fast speed. However, most of research on intertextuality is still limited to the theories or the phenomenon of intertextuality itself, the research on "Subject" within the category of intertextuality still lacks sufficient attention.As regard to the terminology "Subject", it contains two basic meanings which in some sense contradicts with each other, one is "a free agent" which can be the initiator of some activity, in charge of the activity and be responsible for it; another is "passive or affiliated existent", which is subordinated to some higher authority. In western philosophy, the traditional view of subject advocates a sovereign subject, which is considered to be an agent that has free will and mentality. Subject is regarded as a self-employed, free and rational entity, which can utilize and transform the whole world according to their own interests and anticipation.To Critical Discourse Analysis, at a great degree, discourse and power establish the position of subject and control it in the practice of discourse. In discourse practice, subject voluntarily reinforces and emphasizes the rules and regulations of the discourse. In this process, subject exercises the power which is concealed in particular discourse and becomes the tool and target of ideology.At this backdrop, this paper attempts to discuss a typical example of intertextuality phenomenon by combining theoretical and practical evidence, to discuss the construction of subject and disclose the relationship between genre, intertextuality and subject in discourse, creatively proposes the view that subject, from some sense, is established by genre. In a specific discourse, genre directly influences and shapes the subject in the discourse. Meanwhile, the intertextuality relationship amid different genres in the discourse correspondently forms the intertextuality relationship among the subjects of the discourse. The above findings can facilitate the understanding of the discourse from the perspective of genre-subject relationship. Also these findings could have great significance in revealing power and ideology hidden in the discourse.