In the document "The Concept of Discourse Community" by John Swales, the author delineates the defining criteria of a discourse community, emphasizing six characteristics that contribute to its formation. Swales asserts that a discourse community is characterized by common goals, participatory mechanisms, information exchange, community-specific genres, specialized terminology, and a high level of expertise. He provides examples and discusses the case of the Hong Kong Study Circle, highlighting the diverse membership and interactive content through its Journal and Newsletter. Additionally, Swales addresses the assimilation of world-view within discourse communities and the variability in their norms, citing academic classes as potential discourse communities as they evolve to meet the defining criteria over time.
Moreover, Swales challenges the notion of complete assimilation into a discourse community and discusses the varying degrees of belonging and participation within such communities. He acknowledges the potential for conflict and tension within discourse communities and explores the dynamics of participation and assimilation. Swales also evaluates the applicability of the concept of discourse communities to various groupings, such as shareholders of a company, members of book clubs, and academic classes, providing insightful perspectives on the formation and evolution of discourse communities.
In "Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction," James Paul Gee introduces the concept of Discourses, which encompass ways of being, valuing, believing, and doing. He emphasizes the multidimensional nature of Discourses and the influence they have on individuals' identities and behavior. Gee challenges the notion of complete assimilation into a single Discourse and argues that individuals are often influenced by multiple Discourses, undermining the idea of a clear-cut, all-or-nothing effect. He also explores the complexities of acquiring new Discourses and how individuals may not fully or perfectly embody a single Discourse, emphasizing the fluid and dynamic nature of Discourse membership.
Overall, both Swales and Gee provide thought-provoking insights into the formation and dynamics of discourse communities and the complex nature of Discourses, shedding light on the varied ways in which individuals engage with and are influenced by different linguistic and social contexts.
Base on the lecture above respond to this questions "These questions are intended to get you thinking about how to comprehend the content and how valuable it is"
1-What distinguishes a speech community from a discourse community?
2-Which six qualities best describe a discourse community?
3-What kind of discourse community does Swales propose as an example?
4-When Swales talks about assimilation problems in connection to a discourse community, what does he mean?
5-How can Swales help us with our research question for this course, in your opinion?
