Discourse analysis helps us understand how vocabulary is used to create smooth and meaningful communication. For example, the words we use in a friendly conversation are often different from the words we use in a formal essay or report. This is because our word choices depend on who we’re talking to, what we’re talking about, and what we want to achieve.
Experts like Halliday and Hasan (1976) also explain that vocabulary helps create cohesion in texts. This means words can link ideas together across sentences by repeating key terms, using synonyms, or showing relationships with words like however, because, or therefore. In short, vocabulary is not just about knowing words it’s about using them in the right way to make our speaking and writing clear, connected, and effective. So, the focus in discourse analysis is not just on learning word meanings, but also on learning how words connect to each other and how they help build meaning throughout a conversation, story, or article. This helps us see the bigger picture of how language works in real communication.