A discourse-historical analysis of research on digital empowerment in english language teaching in China

This study aims to reveal discursive themes, strategies, and linguistic devices adopted in research on digital empowerment in English language teaching in China, revealing historical context, power dynamics, and ideological influences. The research corpus includes literature from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science (WoS), analyzed using AntConc 4.1.3 for corpus and discourse-historical analysis. Results show growing interest in digital technology integration beyond language learning systems, with a shift in discourse focus from technology application to its impact on teaching practices. The viewpoint and attitude in discourse are changing from positive affirmation to considering application effects and potential issues. This study provides references for educators, policymakers, and researchers to effectively enhance English language teaching with digital technology.