A discourse community is a group of people that share similar goals, values and have different ways of communicating these. In addition to owning genres, it has acquired specific lexis that can be recognized by others. For instance chefs would say a number table that would only be understood by their co workers who are part of the same discourse community. Among their members discourse communities have specific mechanisms of communication. For example usually teachers would communicate via email as it would not be efficient sending letters, whereas it would be too informal to send a text message. To be part of a discourse community, it is essential to have some knowledge or expertise in that subject, therefore you are able to communicate and understand the different language that is used.
Examples:
- Farmers
- Teachers
- Sports fans/teams
- Video gamers
- Religious groups
- Sororities
Grice's Maxims
- The maxim of quality - Be truthful
- The maxim of quantity - As informative as required
- The maxim of relation - Be relevant
- The maxim of manner - Be perspicacious
These maxims form the basis for inferences that we draw in a normal conversation. These maxims can be violated to give rise to new implications. Ways of violating a maxim are:
- opting out - to choose to not respond following the rules of the maxims.
- flouting a maxim (manner) - expects the other person to notice (sarcasm)
Goffman face theory
Everyone is subconsciously concerned with how other people perceive them. We strive socially to maintain our own identity for other people to see. Also he believes that we care about losing face as i diminishes our self-image.
Brown and Levinson: Politeness theory
Positive face is the desire to be liked, appreciated and approved by society.
Negative face is the desire to not be imposed upon, intruded, or otherwise put upon.
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