- How does Swales explain what he means when he writes that speech communities are centripetal while discourse communities are centrifugal? (471) When Swales says that speech communities are centripetal, he’s explaining that they absorb people in a more general way. Along with this, discourse communities are centrifugal because they can separate people into occupational/ speciality- interest groups.
- According to Swales, what are the six defining characteristics of a discourse community? (471-473) 1. Discourse communities has a broadly agreed set of common public goals. 2. It has mechanisms of intercommunication among its members. 3 Discourse uses its participatory mechanisms primary to provide information or feedback. 4. It utilizes & posses 1 or more genre’s in the communicative furtherance of its aim. 5. In addition to genres, it’s acquired specific lexis. 6. Has threshold level of members with suitable degree of relevant content and expertise.
- In your own words, what does Swales point out as the problems of the concept of discourse community? (478) It can have some contradiction.
English 2089
English 2089 