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Timothy Daly
Megan Keaton
ENC1101-0042
11 November 2013
Mini-Ethnography
There are an infinite amount of different aspects within a community. The aspect focused
on for this specific mini-ethnography is the relationship between the functionality of the
community and the language used. The community that was chosen was an intramural basketball
team. Originally there was skepticism as to the importance of written and spoken language in an
athletic oriented community. However, after hours of observation and an interview with the
coach of the team, the significance the roles played by written and spoken language were
unveiled.
The observations took place at an outside basketball court on the Florida State
University’s campus. The court is fenced in and actually consists of two courts side by side. At
one end of the court, outside the fence, there is a brick kiosk with picnic tables surrounding it.
The first observation was completed seated at these picnic tables. However, this particular place
was not at all as discrete as previously assumed. Outside the fenced in basketball courts there is a
beach volleyball court. More picnic tables are located around the perimeter of the beach
volleyball court. The second observation took place at these picnic tables. Additionally, these
picnic tables and the beach volleyball court are located down a slight hill from the basketball
courts. This allowed the observer to view the entire environment while going completely
unnoticed by the community observed. Observing without the community’s knowledge is a
crucial part of recording an authentic observation.
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The purpose of the community that was observed is to play in an intramural basketball
league. The community’s core values are the same as the rules of the game. Additional values are
apparent however. During an interview with the coach of the team, he stated that “If a player
misses the practice right before a game, then there is no way that he is playing in the game. Also,
if a player is always at practice but cannot make the games, I have to ask them to leave. If you
cannot make games then you’re just a distraction at practice.” (Schmaus) There are also general
rules concerning the overall success and productivity of the community. The coach must be
listened to and respected, otherwise practices would be impossible to run, but these rules go
without being said. These guidelines are the distinguishable factor between a group of random
people playing a pick-up game, and a team that works together with a common goal.
The goal of the community is the same as any other competitive athletic team. Everyone
on the team is there with the intentions of becoming a better basketball player. Becoming a better
basketball player consequently contributes to the even larger goal of being a competitive
contender in the league. The coach is the main leadership role that ultimately leads to the
community’s success. He is responsible for scheduling practice times and coming to practice
prepared with drills to run during the practice. He is also responsible for informing the team of
the time and dates games and practices are planned. Most importantly, the coach has the final say
concerning who makes the team, and who plays when game time rolls around.
Seeing as the overall goal of the community is to win as many games as possible
throughout the course of the season, the most obvious traits and qualities of an ideal member of
this community would be someone with an immense amount of skill and talent as a basketball
player. Another, maybe overlooked, quality of an ideal member of this community is the ability
to bring the team together. Raising the team’s cohesiveness can only have a positive outcome on
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the productivity of the community and therefore increase the community’s chances of reaching
its goal.
The spoken language of this community is the primary form of communication used by
the members. Because the community meets outside, and it is difficult to hear sometimes, the
spoken language apparent in the community is very short and direct. Multiple one word
commands, exclusively used by this community, are exchanged during games and practices. This
allows the team to work together faster and more efficiently. When asked, the coach responded
that his team had, “community specific words such as calls for plays and what not. Some of these
words are switch, pick, outside and same team.” (Schmaus) Every word has a specific meaning
that is understood between the members of the team. For example, “’Switch’ is what a player
would call out with the intentions to switch from an opponent to another opponent with a fellow
teammate. ‘Outside’ is used to let a teammate know that they have an open man ready for the
pass on the outside, usually right behind the other teammate where he cannot see. ‘Same team’ is
what teammates would yell to two other teammates who might be unknowingly competing with
each other for a rebound or possession of the ball.” (Schmaus) Certain words, such as “pick”,
have multiple meanings. “On offense, if a teammate calls out ‘pick’, this teammate is calling for
another teammate to set a pick for him. On defense, ‘pick’ is used to alert a teammate of an
incoming pick that the opponent is about to set.” (Schmaus)
The spoken language that an ideal member would use does not differ from that of an
average participant. However, the tone in which a member speaks distinguishes the ideal from
the non-ideal. As previously stated, an ideal member would be good at basketball. Therefore,
when an ideal member calls out a command, he calls it out loudly, confidently and more than
likely multiple times. This insures that his teammates hear him and, through his self-asserted
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confidence, trust him more as a valuable member of the community. A non-ideal member may
still call something out, however he may call it out quietly and lacking confidence. If a player is
not confident and does not assert themselves, then his teammates will be less inclined to trust his
abilities and therefore will most likely not use him to his full potential.
Written language also has a surprisingly significant role in the community. The coach is
the main contributor to the reading and writing used within the community. When asked about
the written language in his community, he responded with, “I like to text the players with the
times for practice and games. We also have a Facebook page where I post these times as well. I
also like to send out texts or make posts regarding what we did well and what we need to work
on; usually after a game.” (Schmaus) The writing specific to this community is very informal. In
fact, one can expect to read a Facebook post or text from within the community, with the same
informality of a Facebook post or text from outside the community. This type of writing is not
absolutely critical for the community to function, but it is very helpful. Without having things
written down, members might be more inclined to forget times for practices and games. This
would cause the community members to be late and maybe sometimes not show up at all.
The second form of written language apparent in the community is very unique and
specific. This form of written language comes in the style of written plays that the coach designs
and keeps on his clipboard, which he almost always has with him. The coach elaborated, “My
clipboard is filled with plays that I find and/or design myself. Each dot is a different shape to
represent the different players on the team. Some marks are very specific to the general game of
basketball. Some of the marks though, are marks that I made up. Only my team would be able to
understand the craziness on this thing.” (Schmaus) The random assortment of arrows and lines
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that cover the coach’s clipboard are all part of, in a sense, a made up language that only the
coach and his players understand.
The actual written language, in the form of words, in this community very rarely
influences the spoken language used. The only proof of the written language having any sort of
influence is when members discuss what they have previously read. However, the written
language represented in the plays on the coach’s clipboard has a huge effect on the spoken
language within the community. Each play that the coach designs on his clipboard has a name.
The names of these plays are specific to this community. The coach was not willing to reveal the
names or designs of any of his plays. However, the significance of these plays, not only on the
spoken language of the community, but on the efficiency of the team is obvious. The ability for
teammates to be able to communicate with each other without the opposition comprehending
gives the team an enormous advantage.
The spoken language influences the written language frequently. For example, after a
game, the coach might text the members with key things they did well, and things they need to
practice in weeks to come. Someone outside of this community probably would not understand
what was meant if they received a text saying that later in the week they would be working more
on the pick and roll drill. Whereas, the pick and roll drill would make perfect sense to a member
of the community.
The overall relationship between the community and its language is very important,
especially in a community such as a basketball team. Having key words and phrases within the
community allows for faster and more efficient communication between the members, giving
them an advantage over opponents and further solidifying their overall goal as a community.
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Works Cited
Schmaus, Michael. Personal Interview. 21 Oct. 2013
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Interview
What is the specific language used within your community?
“We have community specific words such as calls for plays and what not. Some of these words
are switch, pick, outside and same team.”
What do these words mean?
“’Switch’ is what a player would call out with the intentions to switch from an opponent to
another opponent with a fellow teammate. ‘Pick’ can be used on offense and defense. On
offense, if a teammate calls out ‘pick’, this teammate is calling for another teammate to set a pick
for him. On defense, ‘pick’ is used to alert a teammate of an incoming pick that the opponent is
about to set. ‘Outside’ is used to let a teammate know that they have an open man ready for the
pass on the outside, usually right behind the other teammate where he cannot see. ‘Same team’ is
what teammates would yell to two other teammates who might be unknowingly competing with
each other for a rebound or possession of the ball.”
What kind of written language does your team use?
“Well, we have different forms of written language. I like to text the players with the times for
practice and games. We also have a Facebook page where I post these times as well. I also like to
send out texts or make posts regarding what we did well and what we need to work on; usually
after a game. I guess the plays I write could be a form of written language too.”
Can you tell me more about these plays?
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“Sure! I usually have a clipboard with me at all times. My clipboard is filled with plays that I
find and/or design myself. Each dot is a different shape to represent the different players on the
team. Some marks are very specific to the general game of basketball. Some of the marks
though, are marks that I made up. Only my team would be able to understand the craziness on
this thing.”
Do you have any special rules unique to your community?
“Of course I do; the biggest one is eligibility concerning games. If a player misses the practice
right before a game, then there is no way that he is playing in the game. Also, if a player is
always at practice but cannot make the games, I have to ask them to leave. If you cannot make
games then you’re just a distraction at practice.”
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Observation Notes

Green chicken wire fence borders court

2 courts side by side inside the fence

Playing on the far court
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5 players
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1 coach

Coach designs and runs drills

All 6 (including coach) participate in practice

Practice runs with drills for 30 minutes

Second half of practice is 3 v 3 half court
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Coach has a clipboard with plays written on it

Specific words yelled out
A. Switch
B. Pick
C. Outside
D. Same team

Practice running drills at full speed during the 3 v 3 game