10 Questions
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a discourse community?
Lack of communication methods
What is an example of a discourse community mentioned in the text?
Call center operators
Can a person be a member of multiple discourse communities?
Yes, a person can be a member of more than one discourse community
What is the difference between close-knit and loose-knit discourse communities?
Close-knit groups have stronger relationships and interactions compared to loose-knit groups
What is the relationship between discourse communities and speech communities?
Discourse communities interact with wider speech communities
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a discourse community?
Membership in multiple communities
What is the relationship between discourse communities and speech communities?
Discourse communities interact with wider speech communities
What is the role of language variety in discourse communities?
Language variety may be determined by social identities and community memberships
Can a person be a member of only one discourse community?
No, a person can be a member of multiple discourse communities
What is the difference between close-knit and loose-knit discourse communities?
The text does not provide information on this
Study Notes
Discourse Communities
- A discourse community is a group of people who share common goals, values, and beliefs and use language to achieve these goals.
- Not everyone who speaks a language is part of a discourse community.
Characteristics of Discourse Communities
- A discourse community has its own language variety, genre, and lexis.
- It has a shared knowledge and common values.
- Members of a discourse community share a common goal and communicate with each other to achieve this goal.
- A discourse community is not defined by geographical location or social class.
Examples of Discourse Communities
- Academic disciplines, such as biology or physics, are examples of discourse communities.
- Professional organizations, such as lawyers or doctors, are also discourse communities.
Multiple Discourse Communities
- A person can be a member of multiple discourse communities.
- Membership in multiple discourse communities can lead to language contact and the development of new language varieties.
Close-Knit and Loose-Knit Discourse Communities
- Close-knit discourse communities have a clear and specific purpose, and members are closely tied to each other.
- Loose-knit discourse communities have a more general purpose, and members are not as closely tied to each other.
- Examples of close-knit discourse communities include academic departments, and examples of loose-knit discourse communities include online forums.
Discourse Communities and Speech Communities
- A speech community is a group of people who share a language or language variety.
- A discourse community is a subset of a speech community, and is defined by its common goals and values.
- Not all speech communities are discourse communities.
Language Variety in Discourse Communities
- Language variety is an important aspect of discourse communities.
- Members of a discourse community use language to achieve their goals and to create a sense of identity.
- Language variety can also be used to exclude outsiders from a discourse community.
Test your knowledge on discourse communities and their unique characteristics with this quiz. Explore the shared goals, specialized terminology, and communication patterns that define these communities. Challenge yourself and see how well you understand the dynamics of discourse communities.
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