Discover the assumptions at work in a given discourse community by asking journalists’ questions.
Analyzing a Discourse Community:
Discover the assumptions at work in a given discourse community by asking journalists’ questions.
Who: Who are the typical participants? What personality and interests seem to make someone more or less successful in the group? What personas are they asked to adopt?
What: What do participants need to know to work effectively in this community? What kinds of depth of knowledge are expected? What topics are appropriate for discussion, reading, and communication? What critical assumptions lie behind the actions and communications of participants?
When and Where: When and where do people accomplish the work of the group? Are there recognizable rituals and working habits—a “workplace culture”—in this community? Are there rules and regulations that must be followed, for example? Do people work alone or mainly in groups?
How: How are questions asked, answers found, and results conveyed within this group? How are problems resolved? What forms of communication are most common? Do writers usually know their readers personally?
Why: Why does this group exist or why was it formed? Given your other observations, what beliefs or values seem to guide the people and practices of this community?
Studying Forms of Communication:
Writing Situation and Medium
Genre – includes both the writing situation and the medium, e.g., a laboratory report, persuasive essay, research paper, proposal, accident report, resume.
Medium—the basic form employed within the writing situation to create a genre — a set of required verbal and sometimes visual components. “Dear Sandra,” and “Love, Ellen,” indicate the genre is a personal letter. Medium is the set of features that are unique to that specific genre. The lab report – logically organized, objective voice and style, carefully researched, dates, figures, graphs, etc.
STYLE: Difficult to define but easily recognizable. Different kinds of writing require different styles of writing.
Questions for determining appropriate style:
POV: Personal, “I”? Third person, “one”? Direct address, “you”?
Requirements: 1 extra page
Jaber Hinnawi
ENGL1010: Writing Studies II
Professor C. Hague
17/09/2023
Embracing the Gym Discourse Community
Introduction
In the world of discourse communities centered around shared interests, I find myself fully immersed in a crucial one—the gym. According to John Swales definition a discourse community is formed by individuals who have objectives, interests and a specialized way of communicating (Beason). While some may argue that the gym is simply a place, for fitness I firmly believe that it represents a vibrant discourse community where people come together to improve their well-being and share a common language related to health and fitness. This essay explores the characteristics of the gym as a discourse community exploring its communication patterns and how it relates to the concept of civic engagement.
The Gym Discourse Community
Common Goals and Interests
The gym discourse community is made up of people who have a shared goal; improving their health and fitness (Hill et al., p.11). When individuals go to the gym they aim to build strength, improve endurance lose weight or achieve fitness related objectives. While these goals may differ from person, to person the ultimate objective is to live a healthier life. This shared purpose and interest bring the members of the gym community together.
Specialized Language and Communication
In any discourse group of people who share interests there is always a way of communicating and the gym is certainly no different. Inside those walls you can frequently hear terms, like “reps,” “sets,” “macros,” and “HIIT” (High Intensity Interval Training). These words are not used for communication. Also serve as a means to exchange knowledge and offer support. It is common to catch conversations about workout routines, nutrition plans and the latest fitness trends, in the gym. It is a community where, discussing the advantages of a plant-based diet or debating whether cardio or weightlifting is better comes naturally as talking about the weather.
Civic Engagement through Health
Our cohort’s central focus is, on engagement. One might question how the gym discourse community aligns with this theme. Although it may not seem political the gym plays a role, in civic engagement through promoting health and wellness. In a time where healthcare’s a global concern taking charge of one’s well-being becomes an act of civic responsibility. By prioritizing their fitness and well-being members of the gym community contribute to the objective of encouraging healthier lifestyles alleviating strain on healthcare systems and ultimately cultivating a more resilient and prosperous society.
Characteristics of the Gym Discourse Community
Inclusivity
The gym discourse community embraces people of all ages, backgrounds and fitness levels with open arms (Scott-Pollock, p.10). It offers a space where individuals, whether they are beginners or experienced athletes can exist together in harmony. This sense of inclusivity goes beyond accepting individuals; it also focuses on creating an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging and receives support.
Knowledge Sharing
People, in the gym community are really passionate about sharing their expertise and personal experiences. They willingly provide guidance, helpful tips and motivation to their gym enthusiasts. This exchange of knowledge is particularly valuable for newcomers, to the fitness world as it helps them navigate the daunting realm of workout routines, gym equipment and proper nutrition.
Motivation and Accountability
One of the most powerful things, about the gym community is how it inspires and motivates people to stay committed, to their fitness goals (Molina & Myrick, p.1233). When one is surrounded by others who have objectives it creates an atmosphere where everyone supports and pushes each other. Watching others challenge themselves can be incredibly inspiring pushing individuals to go beyond their comfort zones.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the gym community is a thriving group of people who come together with a shared goal of improving their health and fitness. It truly embodies the qualities of a discourse community as described by John Swales with its language, common objectives and emphasis, on sharing knowledge. Additionally, the gym community contributes to engagement by promoting lifestyles and encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their well-being. Being an active member of the community reminds me of its benefits to my health in particular as well as on society. The gym is not only a place for doing workouts but it is a center for engagement where members meet and contribute towards enhancing a lively, healthier and happy community.
Works Cited
Beason, Russell. “Rethinking Discourse Communities in the Digital Age: The Effects of Streaming on Discourse of Gaming Communities.” (2020).
Hill, Jessica, Elise Massey, and Hannah Gullo. “Understanding the experience of community-based fitness professionals supporting people with disability to engage in sport and exercise: a national survey.” Disability and Rehabilitation (2023): 1-11.
Molina, Maria D., and Jessica G. Myrick. “The ‘how’and ‘why’of fitness app use: investigating user motivations to gain insights into the nexus of technology and fitness.” Sport in Society 24.7 (2021): 1233-1248.
Scott-Pollock, Julie-Ann. “Performing marginalized embodiment in fitness culture: co-storytelling in/exclusion through personal narrative.” Text and Performance Quarterly (2023): 1-20.
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