ANALYSIS OF THE DISCURSIVE CONTEXT OF TARGETED WEBSITES OR DESIGNED BY YOUNG CATHOLICS

Abstract

This article describes the discursive context (Teun A. van Dijk) of four websites designed for or aimed at Catholic young people. The objectives are (1) to describe the organization of the discursive contexts of the websites and (2) to explain their context models in order to identify the set of relevant properties of the communicative situations of the websites. The Scene, the participants, their beliefs and objectives were analyzed from the four selected websites. We find that the social belonging of young people is with the family group, the group of friends and the Catholic community. Its ideological position is pro-life and in favor of Catholic values. His affiliation is towards the Catholic religion. Belonging, ideology and affiliation support the relevant context models. From the context model, discursive production is based on dichotomous and separatist positions between Us (Catholics) and Others (non-Catholics). The context model of the sites is codified from religious discourse. The religious practices represented by the content of the websites are the interface between the subjective mental models of young people and the principles of the Catholic religion. Web sites do not allow communicative interaction, therefore their meanings to achieve their goals are controlled.