ENGL 101-008 Fall 2012
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Discourse occurs when we communicate with
another person, either through written or
spoken means of communication.
Communities are social groups connected by
common values, goals, or purposes.
Discourse communities are social organizations
united by writing and norms of communication.
Members of the discourse community use a
variety of genres to communicate with each
other and to advance the goals of their
community.
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Writer Deanna Mascle, in an article about
discourse communities, defines a discourse
community as,
“… a group of people who ‘speak the same
language’ or in other words people who
share an interest in certain topics, share a
body of knowledge about those topics,
and possess a common vocabulary for
discussing those topics” ( par.3).
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Unifying goals/purpose for communication
with members and the public
Uses many genres in the process of
communication with its members
Has rules and practices for communication
among its members
Members are required to possess a certain
level of knowledge/ expertise to
communicate with each other
Knowing your audience/purpose is important for
writing effectively, but discourse community
knowledge helps you make informed decisions
about every aspect of your writing.
 Discourse community analysis can guide you in
choosing what words to use, how to use them
and what information the members of the
discourse community already know.
 The discourse community changes the way
language is used as well as the content of that
language.
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What specialized languages/texts are used?
How are those languages/texts used?
What genres are used and how?
What are the norms for these genres? What can
and cannot be said?
 What general knowledge exists within the
community?
 What motivates and interests the community?
 What are typical roles and tasks for writers in
this community?
 What is considered “good writing” in this
community?
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