Although often the only course in linguistics taken by undergraduate and even graduate students in other programs, discourse analysis cannot be handily disposed of in a definition or two. Some consider it a discipline within linguistics, but Johnstone (English, Carnegie Mellon U.) prefers to think of it as a systematic and rigorous research method available to scholars and non-scholars in a variety of fields who are asking a variety of questions. In that light she introduces discourse analysis to those without previous background in linguistics, analyzes discourse within the context of linguistic categories, cultures and ideologies, examines parts and sequences of discourse structure and the relationships, defines the roles and identities expressed, and explains the relevance of prior texts and discourses, the influence of the discourse medium, and the impact of intention and interpretation. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)