Big Data in Discourse: A Linguistic Investigation

A current catchphrase in the technology section of news media, big data is a socio-technical construct with an impressive power of innovation in key sectors like healthcare, government and business. However, it is still hard to fully understand its epistemological implications, while the use of big data generates ethically controversial decisions. Among the reasons for this are the questions big data raises about privacy, consent and accountability, with all the actors involved – tech industries, healthcare professionals, policy makers and ordinary citizens – faced with unforeseen opportunities and responsibilities. This work analyses the linguistic texture of the big data narrative in global news media and in public and policy discourse in order to contribute to its understanding from the critical perspective of language studies.