Reading Response No. 14

Before you read:
One time that I have felt of place recently was when I started getting involved in a Christian organization on campus. Being new to not only the group but also to the group's brand of faith, I felt out of place at most events I attened with the group. Watching others worship with such ease confused me and made me feel very out of place. To watch people praise and understand seemingly without effort discouraged me to go back because I could not fit in with many of the group's members.

Summary:
In his article "The Concept of the Discourse Community," Swales attempts to shed light on the definition of discourse community to readers and wiriters. He argues by saying that the defintion of discourse community needs or be separate or different from the definition of speech community. He says that this can be done with six methods such as a set of common goals within the community, methods of communication among members of the discourse community, using group communication for feedback, using multiple genres for understanding, use of a vocabulary within the community, and members who are counted as qualified.

Synthesis:
Obviously, one could compare this article to the Porter article "Intertextuality and the Discourse Community." The article uses the concept of discourse community to discuss intertexuality. While Swales goes more into discourse community, both articles explain the concept of discourse community.

Questions for Discussion and Journaling
5. I think one discourse community I belong to would be the realigous group I mentioned previously. For example, one way that it posseses the six characteristics of discourse community is a set of common goals, which is to share our faith with others. Obviously, there is a lexis between members, and the group also uses different genres to accomplish our goals.

Personal Response:
I thought it was interesting that Swales used certain characteristics to define discourse community. I feel that these are a great way to separate speech and discourse communities, one of the things that the article wanted to accomplish.