Discourse is commonly understood as a set of statements that convey meaning. However in Cultural Studies discourse as a key term is understood differently. Chris Barker in The Sage Dictionary of Cultural Studies refers to this difference in a way that is easy to understand:

“The routine day-to-day usage of the term discourse simply refers to a stretch of text or spoken utterances that cohere into a meaningful exposition. However, cultural studies practitioners are, more often than not, using the concept of discourse in a more technical way…. discourse is said to ‘unite' language and practice and refers to regulated ways of speaking about a subject through which objects and practices acquire meaning. The production of knowledge through language that gives meaning to material objects and social practices we may call discursive practice.”