Asymmetrical power in discourse: The case of ‘experts’ and ‘laypeople’ on the radio phone-in programme Antena Aberta

WHILST the public debate over the ‘idea of Portuguese identity’ within the European context has taken place during this last decade in the media,1 I have not encountered (linguistic) studies on discourses of national identity construction and representation. Another omission is in-depth analyses of the media’s contribution to the reshaping of discourse(s) hence social practice(s) in relation to national identity. I propose to bring together these two facets by analysing: “The discursive construction of Portuguese national identity on a radio phone-in programme discourse broadcast in June 2006”, paying special attention to historical and socio-political contextual factors. As such, using a qualitative in-depth methodology (combining discourse analysis and conversation analysis), this paper explores power relations interand intrasocial groups when framing discourses on national identity and the attempts to imagine and construct national identity within the discourses produced by ‘experts’ and ‘laypeople’ on a radio phone-in programme apropos the football World Cup 2006.