Swales’ Concept of Discourse Community.

John Swales: Concept of Discourse Community. Per Swales, the criteria necessary to sink or swim within any discourse community is discussed and analyzed.

 Swales’ Concept of Discourse and the Communities

 To be frank and transparent, this article was A LOT to process and digest, but I shall summarize to the best of my ability on how Swales expresses his interpretation of a Discourse Community. Swales describes and analyzes how groups of people with common goals, interests, and specialized knowledge communicate and interact through these communities. Through lexis, genres, and specific criteria; we can infer that all within these communities have the goal of achieving the same.

In this chapter, Swales shares his concepts and ideas of how a Discourse community is formed and has continued success through its members and increase of interest and knowledge.

 Swales begins by extending clarification to what an actual discourse is and his ideas of the term. Unbeknownst to Swales, of the exact ‘birth’ of the term, he expresses that it was more than likely appropriated by social perspectivists, therefore discourse itself is considered a form of social behavior amongst a group to extend and maintain knowledge. Discourse is an association or organization compiled of members with common goals.

 Swales moves through this chapter by breaking down his 6 characteristics to persuade or prove the concept of what a Discourse Community consists of: from the set of common and public goals, to the mechanisms of intercommunication that occurs amongst its members and the specific participatory mechanism that is utilized to provide information and feedback. Swales also informs us that, in order for the community to be a ‘well-oiled’ and functioning machine; it has to consist of genres to ensure the appropriate flow and aim of the community.

To note, the genres created or in place can not only be recognized by its members, but also to ‘outside’ entities that may desire to gain access to the discourse. Swales also provides the claim that discourses have specialized vocabulary known as lexis that ensures effectiveness and efficiency. In the following, I briefly summarize Swales’ theory/concept of a Discourse Community via the chapter read:

1. What is a Discourse Community:

•   Swales defines a discourse community as a group of individuals who share a common goal or purpose and who communicate with each other using specialized language and discourse conventions.

2. Common Goals and Interests:

•  Members of a discourse community are united by a common interest, goal, or objective. This shared purpose often drives their communication and participation within the community.

3. Specialized Language and Discourse Practices:

•  Discourse communities have their own specialized vocabulary and communication practices known to us as lexis. These linguistic features help members efficiently convey complex ideas and information relevant to their shared interests.

4. Knowledge and Expertise:

•  Members of a discourse community typically possess specialized knowledge or expertise related to their common interest. This knowledge sets them apart from those outside the community and informs their discourse.

5. Communication Channels:

•    Discourse communities often have established channels for communication, which may include written documents, oral communication, online forums, and other forms of interaction. These channels facilitate the exchange of information and ideas within the community.

6. Genre Awareness:

•    Swales emphasizes the importance of genre awareness within the discourse communities. Members are familiar with the specific genres (Ex., research, reports, policy documents) and conventions used for communication within their community.

7. Entry and Socialization:

•    Becoming a member of a discourse community often requires newcomers to learn the community’s specialized language and discourse practices. This process of socialization is crucial for full participation.

8. Rhetorical Awareness:

•    Members of a discourse community are aware of the rhetorical strategies and persuasive techniques that are effective within their community’s discourse. This awareness allows them to effectively communicate their ideas and influence others.

To prove the concept, Swales utilizes his experiences with the discourse community of the HKSC-Hong Kong Study circle to paint the picture of how these discourse communities develop and function and how his characteristics applied to this particular discourse. However, Swales reveals that this discourse lacked communication as it only utilized a journal/newsletter to intercommunicate to which he was initially unsuccessful. In the midst of this entire theory, I could not help but try to figure out the distinction of whether Swales believed that most communities were either of Discourse or Speech Communities. I plan on researching this concept further to gain more mental and independent clarity.

Overall, I like how Swales’ concept challenged my thinking in comparison to our previous assignment of Gee’s theory of Discourse Communities.