discursively

Discursively is an adverb derived from discursive, used to describe actions, analyses, or modes of thinking that proceed through discourse rather than relying solely on logic, deduction, or generalized scientific method. In academic writing, to examine a topic discursively means to focus on how language, arguments, and social practices shape meanings within particular communities or institutions. The term signals attention to talk, text, and context as constitutive elements of knowledge production, rather than to abstract truth independent of communication.

Etymology: Discursive derives from Latin discursus, meaning “running to and fro” or “digression,” via French and English. The sense relevant to the present usage emphasizes reasoning that moves through talk and argumentation across different discourses.

Usage: Discursively is common in linguistics, literary studies, sociology, and critical discourse analysis. It is used to describe methods, analyses, or conclusions that attend to how discourse constructs categories such as identity, power, or legitimacy. For example, one might say, “The policy debate is discursively framed around issues of autonomy and responsibility,” or “The author discursively repositions marginalized groups within the narrative.” The term can also describe the style or orientation of discourse as a whole—whether it tends toward digression, polyphony, or intertextual referencing.

See also: discursive, discourse analysis, critical discourse analysis, discursive construction.