The most influential modern development of the term comes from French philosopher Michel Foucault. For Foucault, discourse is not just language; it is a system of representation that governs what can be said and who can say it.

Below is an overview of its development and key conceptual applications: 1. Linguistic Definition

This interdisciplinary field examines how language functions in social contexts. It is used to deconstruct various forms of communication:

Viewed discourse as a set of stable rules (like grammar) that dictate how meaning is made.