| The term discourse means a conversation or | | | | world there are two situations for a discourse |
| more extended and more formal discussion of | | | | community, between co-workers and between |
| our ideas in either speech or writing. A discourse | | | | the professionals and the clients. The professional |
| community is a group of people who can speak | | | | has to relay to the client the information that the |
| the same language, share an interest in certain | | | | client requires, in some cases this may require the |
| topics and goals, know and understand a great | | | | professional to explain technical terms to the |
| deal about them, and possess a common or | | | | client, or in some cases the professional may try |
| technical vocabulary for discussing the same. | | | | to awe the client with his use of technical |
| Particular individuals will not fall into a single | | | | language or jargon. Telesales are an example of |
| discourse community. For example, a lawyer | | | | professional - client interaction in that a specific |
| usually specialises in a certain field of work, such | | | | pattern is adhered to from the beginning of the |
| as conveyancing, but he is also a member of the | | | | process so that the professional can maintain as |
| larger legal service in which a common legal | | | | much control of the conversation as possible. The |
| technical vocabulary, common interests and goals | | | | client answers the telephone call, the caller then |
| are present. This is what makes discourse | | | | addresses the client by his assumed title. Once |
| communities so difficult to isolate into single | | | | the identity of the client is confirmed the |
| communities. | | | | professional will begin their 'sales pitch' where they |
| Discourse communities do not only occur in the | | | | inform the prospective client of what they are |
| workplace, but also play a key role in social life. | | | | selling in a rehearsed and well planned manner, it is |
| For example, the language used when talking to | | | | then up to the client to decide whether he wants |
| ones mother will be different from when talking | | | | to hear more, accept or decline the offer. In this |
| to a close friend. It will again be different when | | | | situation the balance of power swings from the |
| writing to a prospective employer. Indeed written | | | | seller to the client in that the seller weans |
| discourse and spoken discourse are likely to be | | | | information from the client but ultimately the client |
| highly different as written English is usually of a | | | | has the right to cancel the entire process at any |
| highly rigid standardised form and spoken English | | | | time the client see fit [Ref 6 p103]. This discourse |
| to be highly un-standard with varieties of English | | | | is one of client and professional where the power |
| arising from such things as culture, location and | | | | is vested in the client but in some other scenarios |
| age; both of which being different communities of | | | | the weight of the power is more heavily vested |
| discourse. | | | | in one or other of the parties. |
| Discourse communities used in any setting provide | | | | This is the case in areas such as medicine where |
| a social link between the persons talking. In these | | | | the roles of the client and professional are |
| discourses however there are rules that all parties | | | | different. It has been observed by researchers |
| must abide by. They must begin, continue and | | | | such as Maynard that unlike the process of |
| then finish a conversation. At the beginning of a | | | | patient asking for a prognosis and the doctor |
| conversation there can be something known as | | | | supplying it that a three turn system is more |
| phatic communion [Ref 1 p7] where so called | | | | likely to appear, this is a query from the doctor |
| 'small talk' brings the talkers together and set the | | | | followed by the patient's reply and assessment |
| parameters for the conversation, during the | | | | followed by the doctors report and diagnosis [Ref |
| conversation there will be factors such as social | | | | 7 p105]. This system shows how the balance of |
| status and age to determine the topics and as to | | | | power in a conversation cab be affected in a |
| what direction it follows. Obviously the final part of | | | | work to client relationship depending upon the |
| a conversation is the closing and ending of the | | | | situation presented and the profession which is |
| same. This is generally done through repetition of | | | | being employed. |
| polite closing comments made to one another and | | | | Work colleagues may speak to each other in a |
| occasionally references to what has been said in | | | | completely different way to that which they |
| the conversation to bring together and close the | | | | speak to their clients, it may be that co-workers |
| social event that a conversation is. Pleasantries | | | | of a certain level in a work hierarchy speak |
| are exchanged to show that the ending of the | | | | differently to their bosses and their own |
| conversation and separating of ways is not due | | | | subordinates. Gender in the workplace has been |
| to being affronted and in doing this people are | | | | studied in depth to ascertain what influence it has |
| constantly using 'face work'. | | | | over the speech patterns of employees, the |
| Throughout a conversation the socialist Erving | | | | findings of Woods shows that gender is still the |
| Goffman suggests the process of 'face work' is | | | | most influential factor on the apportionment of |
| occurring. This is where all parties attempt to | | | | floor apportionment (floor apportionment being |
| reduce or avoid any loss of face, and if any loss | | | | substantial speaking time). Even when a |
| of face does occur it is remedied via an apology | | | | higher-ranking female was speaking lower ranking |
| or a change of wording [Ref 2 p8]. These | | | | male counterparts would interrupt more |
| considerations are used to try and retain social | | | | frequently and break the line of conversation in |
| standing and are an attempt to be accepted | | | | order to increase their own floor apportionment |
| within the social and personal environment. | | | | [Ref 8 p95]. This influence of gender even in the |
| When people talk to one another they speak in | | | | workplace shows how important it is in the |
| dialog. Whereby from what speakers have | | | | formation of male-female interaction within |
| previously said or through shared or implied | | | | discourse communities. |
| experience the talkers can anticipate what the | | | | Co-workers in set workplaces will begin over a |
| other is going to say [Ref 3 p6], in a discourse | | | | period of time to evolve their own phrases and |
| community this is essential as without this shared | | | | terminology for the work and processes that |
| experience the discourse community could not | | | | they perform, often these terms will mean little |
| exist, it is also useful in that the speakers can | | | | to the lay man but within these set groups they |
| anticipate what one another is going to say, an | | | | will have specialised and certain meanings. In male |
| imperative feature in a technical environment | | | | orientated environments it has been noted that |
| where shared knowledge is highly important. | | | | there is an increase of swearing and this fact has |
| An interesting discourse community to study is | | | | been linked to a show of manhood and/or |
| that between men and women. Research has | | | | masculinity, this overt use of swearing is another |
| shown that in mixed company women usually | | | | sign of a discourse community, one in which the |
| have a smaller role in the conversation than their | | | | members show off their social position by using |
| male counterparts. Lakoff observed that women | | | | phrases and words which they know will promote |
| tend to use more tag questions, intensifiers and | | | | their masculinity [Ref 9 p88]. |
| the more indirect polite form [Ref 4 p19]. This is | | | | Discourse communities are a way in which people |
| unlike men who take the lead in conversations | | | | relate to one another in a social environment. In |
| with women and direct the flow of the talking. | | | | that they all share a similarity. The way in which |
| Goodwin has suggested a reason for this in that | | | | these communities operate will vary not only with |
| male and female children play differently. Boys | | | | the contributors but also in the environment in |
| tend to play within hierarchical systems whereas | | | | which it is set. The use of continual foul language |
| girls work in cooperative groups this being a | | | | would not be permitted in some social settings |
| tendency that seems to follow into later life. | | | | yet in some workplaces it is a common |
| Arguments within the boys' hierarchy were sorted | | | | occurrence. All discourse communities will have |
| out immediately with the child attempting to | | | | some specialised or unique form of vocabulary |
| change the hierarchy brought to account as soon | | | | and syntax marking it out from any other, and in |
| as the event occurred; whereas the girls tended | | | | that the individuals will have to learn to use and |
| to discuss the situation in the absence of the | | | | adapt their language skills as they move from one |
| accused party and then formulate a conclusion. | | | | discourse community to another as they |
| These outcomes may well show why the | | | | encounter different people and settings every day |
| attitudes of men and women in conversation | | | | of their lives. |
| differ so greatly, in that as children the boys learn | | | | All references are from Janet Maybin and Neil |
| to be more direct and confrontational and the girls | | | | Mercer (2002 5th Edition) Using English from |
| discuss cooperatively and less directly [Ref 5 p19]. | | | | conversation to canon, London. Routledge. For |
| The work environment is one in which discourse | | | | more information on this topic, see |
| communities most readily arises. In the business | | | | easyessaywriting.co. |