Talk:Discourse

-- Asteven8 16:43, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

What's the difference between discourse and regular communication?

Re: -- Dmueller 14:16, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

Usually, discourse refers to distinguishable, localized, or bounded language patterns. A "discourse of English Studies," then, would refer all variety of language practices that are somewhat specialized (i.e., unique to English Studies). Sometimes we hear "discourse" used as "discourse communities." Discourse communities groups within which a specialized language is used and understood among participants or members. The trickier question, I think, is whether any such thing as "regular communication" even exists. Since all communicative acts are situated, it might be that we arrive at "regular communication" when we neglect the distinctive nuances of a discourse or when we ignore the situated quality of the utterance.