Reexamining the Relationship Between Communication and Language Through Discourse Analysis: A Case Study Using Movie Material*

The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature of communication and the function of language through discourse analysis using movie material. To achieve this, six English-major undergraduates were selected as subjects. The movie used for this study was <i>Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris</i> (Fabian, 2022). Over a three-month period, the subjects participated and were administered six tests, along with one report. Two tests focused on content relevant to the case study (the second and sixth tests), while three tests focused on form (the first, third, and fourth tests). The fifth test combined content and form. The results indicated that subjects B, C, and D preferred content-based instruction (emphasizing the nature of communication, stories, culture, etc.), despite subject D not achieving a high test score. Subject A was ambivalent, noting that while content-based instruction was beneficial, language learning was also necessary. Subjects E and F preferred English language learning. In their reports commenting on the method, subjects B, C, and D were positive, subject A had mixed feelings, and subjects E and F were indifferent. Considering that three out of six subjects responded positively, we believe that using discourse analysis can be effective in helping students understand the nature of communication.