What is a Discourse Community?

Student learning outcome:

Students will begin to see themselves as members of specific and overlapping discourse communities
and to understand the written and oral communication genres of each.

Language Community

Speech Community

Discourse Community
Folocal
Discourse
Community

A language community consists of all people who use a particular language (e.g., English, Spanish).
A speech community consists of people who use a particular language variety (e.g. African American
Vernacular English, Australian English).
A discourse community consists of people who use a particular language for the same goals and
purposes.
A folocal discourse community consists of people who use a particular language for specific purposes
in a local context.

According to Swales, “Discourse communities both influence and are influenced by the larger
communities in which they are situated.”

Swales (2017) wrote an important article defining discourse communities:

1. A DC has a broadly agreed set of goals.
2. A DC has mechanisms of intercommunication among its members.
3. A DC uses its participatory mechanisms to provide information and feedback.
4. A DC utilizes and hence possesses one or more genres in the communicative furtherance of its
aims.
5. In addition to owning genres, it has acquired some specific lexis.
6. A DC has a threshold of members with a suitable degree of relevant content and discoursal
expertise.
7. A DC develops a sense of “silential relations.”
8. A DC develops a horizon of expectation.
Let’s look at how WRIT 300 students have paraphrased these definitions and some examples they have
provided.

1. A DC has a broadly agreed set of goals.

Members of a DC share perspectives, values, and goals that are created intentionally or unintentionally.
 Psychologists share the goal of wanting to help others and build a mentally healthy society.
 The Office of Technical Support (OTS) at the University of Baltimore employees share the
common goal of keeping the university’s systems up and running.

2. A DC has mechanisms of intercommunication among its members.

Members of a DC can use many forms of media to communicate with one another.
 MaryKay Cosmetics members communicate with each other online or through the “Voxer”
app.
 The Baltimore Ravens staff communicate via e-mail unless a task is urgent, when
communication occurs face to face or by telephone.

3. A DC uses its participatory mechanisms to provide information and feedback.

Members of a DC can discuss differences, activities, and actions amongst themselves.
 The cybersecurity discourse community uses e-mail, online forums, and network newsgroups
(NNTPs) to interact.
 Automotive technicians hold occasional “pow-wows” as needed and mandatory monthly
“safety meetings.”

4. A DC utilizes and hence possesses one or more genres in the communicative furtherance of its
aims.
Members of a DC use particular forms of communication to meet particular communication goals.
 Black Twitter unapologetically discusses black issues that only appear on your timeline if you
have an abundance of black followers.
 An auditing firm uses Paycom, an online service for scheduling to generate calendar invites to
schedule meetings in particular conference room.
 Academic associations issue “calls for papers” as they organize presentations for conferences.

5. In addition to owning genres, it has acquired some specific lexis.

Members of a DC use specific vocabulary to communicate with one another.
 Call center employees use phrases such as “outbound dialers” and “QA audits.”
 Restaurant kitchen cooks use phrases such as “black pan that item.”
 “MAR” stands for “medical appointment record” to those in the medical community but
“monthly accomplishment report” to those in the military and government.

6. A DC has a threshold of members with a suitable degree of relevant content and discoursal
expertise.
Some members lead the DC by organizing and educating members.
 An academic society has a president and those who have been members for a longer time than
new members.
 Staples has a strong hierarchical structure from the president to store managers to supervisors to
sales associates.
7. A DC develops a sense of “silential relations.”
Members do not need certain understandings or meanings to be spelled out, since they are already
known.
 The communication “I need a runner” from a front-of-the-house restaurant employee need not
add, “to get the food from the back of the house to the customer.”
 In an auto bodyshop, parts are stocked on specific shelves and tagged for particular jobs, which
means that technicians don’t have to ask where something is.

8. A DC develops horizons of expectation.

Members are expected to take on certain roles and behaviors.
 English majors, professional writers, and professors are all expected to use MLA citation
format at different levels of proficiency.
 An employee in a videogame store is expected to not only sell newly released items but also to
“take in trade” and to sell pre-owned items.

A Sample Discourse Community: The United States Senate

1. The Senate has a broadly agreed set of goals.

 The U.S. Senate is the upper chamber of the U.S. Congress. Each state is represented by two
senators. The goals of the Senate include:
 Proposing, debating, and passing legislation (= “bills”) that originate in the House of
Representatives or the Senate itself.
 Approving treaties.
 Confirming cabinet secretaries, ambassadors, federal judges, and Supreme Court justices.
 Impeaching federal officials.
 Electing the Vice-President if none receives a majority in the electoral college.

2. The Senate has mechanisms of intercommunication among its members.

 Floor Activity
 Daily Digest
 The Congressional Record

3. The Senate uses its participatory mechanisms to provide information and feedback.
 The Standing Rules of the Senate (44 in total).
 Unanimous consent
 Committees and subcommittees

4. The Senate utilizes and hence possesses one or more genres in the communicative furtherance
of its aims.
 Committee meetings (“hearings”) are divided into legislative, oversight (of the Executive
Branch), investigative (of wrongdoing), and confirmation. Each genre has its own purposes and
rules of discussion.
5. In addition to owning genres, the Senate has acquired some specific lexis.
 A “quorum” is needed to conduct business. In the Senate, it is a simple majority.
 A “filibuster” is a tactic to prolong debate indefinitely and thus defeat bills and motions.
 “Cloture” ends filibusters and requires support of three-fifths of the Senate.

6. The Senate has a threshold of members with a suitable degree of relevant content and
discoursal expertise.

 The Vice-President is the presiding officer. The President Pro Tempore substitutes.
 Senators are elected to six-year terms, and every two years members of a class face (re)election.
o Class I (terms begin on January 3, 2019).
o Class II (terms began on January 5, 2015).
o Class III (terms began on January 3, 2017).

7. The Senate develops a sense of “silential relations.”

 The threat of a filibuster is often enough to stop debate; Senators know that unless a motion has
the support of a three-fifths majority, it will probably fail.

8. The Senate develops a horizon of expectation.

 Debate is to be carried out according to the Standing Rules.
 The presiding officer is addressed as “Mr. President” or “Madam President.”
 Senators refer to one another by state and position, e.g. “The junior senator from Wisconsin.”
 Senators are expected to make no more than two speeches on a motion during a legislative day.

A Sample Discourse Community: The University of Baltimore

1. UB has a broadly agreed set of goals.

 The Mission consists of vision and values, and a Strategic Plan, http://www.ubalt.edu/about-
ub/ub-strategic-plan.cfm
 A Policy Guide covers student, faculty, and academic affairs; human resources; administration;
information and technology; financial and business affairs, and research,
http://www.ubalt.edu/policies/

2. UB has mechanisms of intercommunication among its members.

 ubalt.edu web domain and e-mail @ubalt.edu
 University and departmental webpages
 Daily Digest
 Group e-mail “blasts”
 The UB Post, UB’s official student newspaper

3. UB uses its participatory mechanisms to provide information and feedback.

 The Student Government Association (SGA) is “the official voice of all UB students.” It has its
own mission and vision statements, http://csi.orgsync.com/org/sga/Mission_and_Vision
 Faculty and staff committees enact “shared governance” in cooperation with the university
administration. Committees keep meeting minutes, which are shared with the university
community.
4. UB utilizes and hence possesses one or more genres in the communicative furtherance of its
aims.
 The Student Handbook, http://www.ubalt.edu/campus-life/student-handbook.cfm, contains
policies and procedures, including Student Rights and Responsibilities
 The UB Intranet, a password-protected “access to vital institutional information,” alerts
community members to new developments in policies and procedures
 The UB diploma communicates that the student has graduated

5. In addition to owning genres, UB has acquired some specific lexis.

 “Eubie” the UB bee logo
 CAS = College of Arts & Sciences; CPA = College of Public Affairs; MSB = Merrick School
of Business
 Marketing slogans: Knowledge that Works, You Know Us

6. UB has a threshold of members with a suitable degree of relevant content and discoursal
expertise.
o Students are ranked according to credit hours achieved: seniors, juniors, sophomores, and
freshmen.
o The President is the ultimate decision maker in academic, financial, legal, and public
relations matters.
o The Provost is the chief academic decision maker.
o Tenure-track faculty are ranked as Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor.
o Contingent faculty are ranked as Lecturer and Adjunct Professor I or II.

7. UB develops a sense of “silential relations.”

 It is assumed that following a degree map is a must in order to graduate.
 One must have a faculty, staff, or student Bee Card to enter campus buildings.
 Course registration entails meeting with an academic advisor.

8. UB develops a horizon of expectation.

 Instructors are expected to hold classes according to the schedule and teach according to the
course syllabus.
 Students are expected to attend and to participate in classes.
 Students from other colleges are expected to share their transcripts with the Registrar’s Office
in order to transfer up to 90 credits.
 Students with disabilities are expected to register with the Office of Disability and Access
Services in order to receive necessary accommodations.

References
Swales, J. (2017). The concept of discourse community: Some recent personal history. Composition
Forum, 37. Retrieved from http://compositionforum.com/issue/37/swales-retrospective.php
United States Senate. Retrieved from https://www.senate.gov
United States Senate. Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate