As a seasoned conversationalist who has used verbal words since childhood, you can easily move from one group of people to another by adjusting your tone, vocabulary, and syntax accordingly. Often without thinking you speak to your parents differently than to your teachers and differently to both groups when you are alone with your friends. It would not occur to him to use the same speech patterns in the locker room and in the church sanctuary.
Most writers understand the concept of an audience and why it is important to understand who your audience is when composing. However, simply understanding the “who” of your audience is just the beginning for seasoned writers. Effective writing, writing that works and conveys its intended message and effect, must fit within the discursive community it is intended to serve.
What is a community of discourse? A community of discourse is a group of people who “speak the same language” or, in other words, people who share an interest in certain topics, share a body of knowledge about those topics, and possess a common vocabulary for discussing those topics. Have you ever been with a group of people who shared a common passion that you knew nothing about? It may be a particular sport or activity, an artistic talent, or a job, but without sharing that same passion, you may find it difficult to follow their conversation. That’s because you are not a member of that speech community. While they speak the same language as you, English, the context of the discourse community changes the way the language is used, as well as the content of that language.
He already belongs to various speech communities as a result of his family, ethnic, and religious background, as well as his personal interests and activities. Students enter the larger speaking community at the institution they attend, as well as numerous smaller speaking communities within that institution, including specific classrooms, clubs and organizations, and majors and programs. From the institution they can also enter smaller speech communities within it. For example, in a hospital, a nurse may belong to the speaking community of the hospital, the nursing staff, and the Emergency Department.
So why is it important for writers to consider the discourse community?
Speech is a longer and more formal conversation or discussion of our ideas, either orally or in writing. Speech is important because that is how we communicate in the social world in which we live and work. The social groups within which we communicate are called communities. A community is a group of people connected by a common goal or purpose. So a community of discourse is a social group that is involved in discourse.
When you participate in a speech community, you need to understand what language is used, how the language is used, what knowledge is generally possessed within the community, and what motivates and interests the community. Understanding the discourse community extends beyond simply knowing your audience and purpose: it means understanding what words to use, how to frame those words into units (sentences, paragraphs, etc.), and what information community members already have.
Once you understand the concept of discourse community and begin to apply it to your writing, you will immediately see an increase in the effectiveness of your writing. Then you can begin to make informed decisions about every aspect of your writing, from word choice, grammar, and sentence / paragraph construction to tone and level of formality.