Community Discourse Analysis Essay Example

this study used John Swales’ six characteristics that are inflexible for a community to be recognized as a discourse community (Swales, 2014). However, only three of the characteristics presented by Swales will be used in this case. The first three characteristics will be used to help in assessing the discourse practices by Dearborn Heights Community Organization and ascertaining whether it is a discourse community.

According to the claims made in book “Genre Analysis,” John Swales explains that there are a set of guidelines that act as bottom-line requirements to be met for any organization to be categorized as a discourse community (Swales, 2014). It should be noted that the primary goal of this paper is to assess and identify the discourse practices used within DHCO.

Swales believes that the use of discourse practices is only possible in discourse communities. Therefore, the practices can only be used in a discourse community making his six-characteristic mechanism a workable methodology of assessing this organization.

One of the characteristics according to Swales is that a discourse community should have common public goals which all members of the given organization need to support and share. Dearborn Heights Community Organization has the common goal of enhancing public engagement to social and political issues that affect their well-being.

All members within the organization identify with this common objective. Questionnaires were randomly offered

to the different staff members at the organization to assess whether they share the same goal. All those that were approached managed to note this as the common goals although the words they used were different but the concept was uniform. In so doing, this characteristic was met which is a sign that Dearborn Heights Community Organization is a discourse community?

In addition to the above, there should also be mechanisms of intercommunication. To assess whether Dearborn Heights Community Organization is a discourse community, there was a need to identify the mechanisms of intercommunication. In other terms, this characteristic requires that a discourse community should have a source(s) through which employees can be able to communicate on issues relating to the goals of their undertakings as well as a platform through which they can share ideas on effective ask delivery (Pollman, 2018).

To determine if this characteristic is met, the HR department was approached and the head of the department was asked through an interview whether there was a mechanism for intercommunication. The feedback that was provided was that the organization uses social media platform as the means of idea sharing and discussion for its staff. Platforms that are commonly used by its members are Facebook and Twitter.

E-mailing was also commonly used within Dearborn Heights Community Organization. There are also casual gatherings that are held as well as business meetings through which the management and

the staff have the outlet to share ideas and goal-setting as well. Therefore, Dearborn Heights Community Organization qualifies to be categorized as a discourse community since it has a mechanism through which its staff members can communicate and brainstorm on various issues. Therefore, the institution is well-set to ensure that their goals are understood between its many players who are part of the staff.

Thirdly, the characteristic regarding the ability of Dearborn Heights Community Organization to garner feedback and offer a platform through which feedback from staff members can be received is also assessed (Pollman, 2018). Some interviews were randomly carried out in that staff members at the junior level and senior level was asked to offer their input on the issue.

Most of the junior members of the staff were helpful in confirming that Dearborn Heights Community Organization paid attention to their suggestions and the feedback that was gathered was taken into effect by the management at the organization. Therefore, Dearborn Heights Community Organization can be categorized as a discourse community.

DHCO holds casual gatherings and meetings that are scheduled in which members are asked to offer feedback and suggestion to the leadership and operations. Through these meetings and gatherings, members can be part of the operations of Dearborn Heights Community Organization.

Findings

Basing on the methodology that was adopted, Dearborn Heights Community Organization qualifies

to be categorized as a discourse community based on the organization’s ability to fulfill the requirements set forth by John Swales. Firstly, some common goals and objectives manage the activities that DHCO undertakes. In other terms, the organization seeks to ensure that they promote social engagement.

Additionally, DHCO hopes to ensure that they enhance political and public engagement. These goals are shared between all members as each of them works towards ensuring that they are met. Another finding that can be noted is that DHCO the communication channels that are incorporated are two-way. In other words, the management, junior members, as well as senior members of the organization can share ideas on how to deliver their tasks more effectively.

Social media platforms are being effectively used as showcased by the use of Twitter and Facebook an indication that there are measures in place to enhance modern means of operation and communication.

There are also human interactions that are enhanced through casual meetings and gatherings that allow interaction and sharing of different concepts on how to enhance performance. Lastly, this study also noted that discursive practices that apply to DHCO are social events that are regularly held, business meetings, casual gatherings, and social networking through social media.

Discussion

The ability of an organization to meet its objectives depends on its ability to recommend the best evidence-based practices in task delivery as well as an understanding of the overarching goals. In the case of DHCO, the discourse practices that they adopt help them to clearly understand their objectives as well as the scope of

their operations. Moreover, discursive practices they are using are technologically relevant meaning that they appeal to the younger generation as well as being substantial (Pollman, 2018).

On a different note, language use by the members of DHCO applies to the manner it is used in written context and spoken context. Although this study focuses on spoken context, it is fair to note that how it is used in written form also affects the ability of the institution to meet its goals and shared values. The written context of the language that is used varied and depends on the information being presented as well as the basis of information presented on paper.

In the aftermath of a casual meeting and social gathering, the context of writing at times is characterized by informal writing. In such cases, the members that were absent during the gatherings can gather the information that was shared as well as the details of the meeting.

All in all, when it comes to understanding the characteristics of a discourse community, it is fair to note that they are defined by the objectives that they hold. In the case of Dearborn Heights Community Organization, their values and discursive practices are influenced by their drive to ensure that they enhance social engagement and public participation on economic and political issues. Therefore, Dearborn Heights Community Organization has effective ways in which language they use both in written texts and spoken contexts.

References

1. Linders, A., & Chifos, C. (2018). Community Immersion, Trust-Building, and Recruitment among Hard to
   

Reach Populations: A Case Study of Muslim Women in Detroit Metro Area.