Communities and Identities

Discourse communities can be linked to an identity through definitions of basic values and assumptions. Swales also defined discourse communities as “groups that have goals or purposes, and use communication to achieve those goals”. A well-known example of a discourse community would be religion. A lot of people identify themselves as part of a religious group. These religious groups also have their basic values and assumptions, and they have goals or purposes (recruiting people and trying to spread their beliefs) and use communication to achieve those goals (having masses or gatherings where they talk about their beliefs, values, and morals). Since people are social animalsby nature, it makes sense that a lot of people prefer to belong to some community that holds similar beliefs.

Trying to become part of a discourse community is hard at first. We have to learn how communicate on their terms and in their language, learn how to accept some beliefs that might be hard for us to integrate into our lives, and how to behave acceptably in the group. For some discourse communities it takes at least YEARS to fit in (like kids having to go to school for at least 12 years before they are deemed to be a functional adult). Sometimes just trying to join a discourse affects your self-esteem in a negative way (applying for jobs and getting rejection after rejection is pretty taxing).

And then there’s the part with growing up.

As we get older, our personalities start to change and develop. Sometimes we stop listening to music that used to define us. And sometimes we stop hanging out with our oldest and best friends. We start, little by little, learning how to be part of a new community and in the process,  we let go of some old parts of our identity we no longer need. 

I need to learn how to dress up in appropriate attire for interviews and jobs that require a more professional look. I need to learn how to communicate ideas and opinions in a more confident way. I can’t always be flippant about responsibilities and punctuality. It might be okay to be a few minutes late for class but showing up a few minutes late for a job could have more dire consequences. Expectations could also change when assuming a new identity. Previously held beliefs about certain identities can shift once we are able to get a closer and in-depth look at them. 

Authoritative figures in a discourse community could be, in Ann Johns’ words, “Prior speaks of these academically powerfulas ‘an elite group that imposes its language, beliefs and values on others through control of journals, academic appointments, curricula, student examinations, research findings, and so on’.

Authoritative figuresusually attain their status through a mix of their knowledge of the community, knowledge of keeping the group together, and a confident attitude. It would be hard to be an authority figure to people who don’t respect you or refuse to listen to what you have to say. To be an authoritative figure, you also have to be willing to at least listen to other people (including those who do not have authority) and determining what is appropriate for the community. 

I think it's best if there are equal measures of give and take.