Mediated Discourse Analysis: An Investigation into Noe-rooz Discourse Traditions in Iranian Culture

Abstract

Inspired mainly by Scollon’s models of mediated discourse analysis, the present study is to analyze Noe-rooz (New Year) discourse traditions in Iranian culture.  Mediated discourse analysis (MDA), a hybrid ethnographic/sociolinguistic approach rooted in cultural-historical activity and practice theories, analyzes mediated actions with objects and meditational means. The focus of this study is on what Iranians do at the beginning of the New Year including their verbal language; specific sentences as prayers for the time of transition to the New Year and their actions of preparing a specific spread called Haft Seen as well as the tradition of visiting relatives and friends. The purpose here is not to merely discuss such sentences (prayers) and other tools of Noe-rooz traditions in Iran, but the combination of discourse with social practices, all which have become sociocultural norms for Iranian people. This study also analyzes the discourse and action of visiting relatives and friends through Scollon's (2005) model of cycles. The present investigation makes it explicit that if we go deep into a special moment of actions and traditions, e.g. the New Year and its subsequent discourse and actions in Iran, the role of culture and beliefs of a nation will emerge.