The power of teachers’ discourse in the classroom

Abstract

This descriptive research intends to analyze the relations of power in teachers' discourse to determine levels of strength between the speaker and the listeners. It has been based on modalization, discourse of power and Berntein's conception (1089, 2000). The sample was composed of 6 hours of recorded classes at random taken from teachers at the Experimental Pedagogical University in Barquisimeto. The unit of analysis cosisted of the speaking turns according to "appropriate places for transtition" (APT). Charts were used for the proccesing and analysis of data. Results show that teachers employ a priviledge discourse used to control, since the modalozation reflected a 55,84%. It is concluded that teachers tend to be autocratic, thus their discourse prevails over the students'.