Old: When I was initially assigned to read the papers of James Paul Gee, June Jordan and Lisa Delpit I had no idea what I would be learning about. I had no idea what Gee’s idea of a Discourse was and I had no idea that I interact in multiple discourses on a daily basis. Gee describes a discourse as “a sort of “identity kit” which comes complete with the appropriate costume and instructions on how to act, talk and often write, so as to take on a particular role that others will recognize” (7). In my own words and what I gained from the reading was that a discourse is an environment that you may or may not be accustomed to. It is how you interact with a certain group of people or a certain community. That is why Gee also introduces the themes of primary and secondary discourses. Primary is the one you are most comfortable in and the one you were most likely born and grew up in. A secondary is one you acquired along the way but you fit in like you have been a member forever. A good example of this for me personally would be how I talk when I am talking to my friends. If I am saying I’m going home I’d say “I’m bout to go back to the crib in a minute”. But if I was at school talking to my professors I’d say “I’m going home soon.”
New: When I was initially assigned to read the papers of James Paul Gee, June Jordan and Lisa Delpit I had no idea what I would be learning about. I had no idea what Gee’s idea of a Discourse was and I had no idea that I interact in multiple discourses on a daily basis. Gee describes a discourse as “a sort of “identity kit” which comes complete with the appropriate costume and instructions on how to act, talk and often write, so as to take on a particular role that others will recognize” (7). In my own words and what I gained from the reading was that a discourse is acquired in an environment that you may or may not be accustomed to but soon become a part of. It is how you interact with a certain group of people or a certain community. This can include and influence your behavior, mannerisms, beliefs, personality and many other things That is why Gee also introduces the themes of primary and secondary discourses. Primary is the one you are most comfortable in and the one you were most likely born and grew up in. A secondary is one you acquired along the way but you fit in like you have been a member forever. These secondary discourses can be acquired by being around a certain group of people a lot or playing a sport and learning the terminology of that sport. A good example of this for me personally would be how I talk when I am talking to my friends. If I am saying I’m going home I’d say “I’m bout to go back to the crib in a minute”. But if I was at school talking to my professors I’d say “I’m going home soon.”
