What is a discourse? As defined by James Paul Gee, discourses are “ways of being in the world, they are forms of life which integrate words, acts, values, beliefs, attitudes, and social identities as well as gestures, glances, body positions, and clothes.” Groups of people who share the same discourse, are called discourse communities. Everyone is a part of a discourse community, whether they realize it or not. How do you know what discourse community you’re a part of?
In order to find your discourse community, there are multiple things to consider. For example, what are your hobbies, what language do you speak? What are your goals? The people who share these same attributes with you are a part of the same discourse community you are. A good example was written by Melzer, in “Understanding Discourse Communities” where he highlights that he found a discourse community for his hobby, playing guitar. Other examples of discourse communities can also be found in groups of people who share the same political values. Discourse communities can even be as specific as people who share the same style of clothes. So when you’re trying to identify the discourse community you are a part of, think of hobbies, clothes, beliefs and other attributes that other people may share with you.
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