James P. Gee's Literacy, Discourse And Linguistics
Chun Kit Dixon Wong
U0907754
Writing 1010 – 006
10 February 2015
In “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: introduction” James P Gee presents his analysis of discourse. Gee discussed Discourse and discourse. With the capital “D which included saying, writing, doing, being, valuing, believing and so forth. The other discourse with the little “d”, it only means connected stretches of language that make sense (Gee, 1989:Page 5) Using the right grammar to talk to people it doesn’t workout every single time. For an example, you walk into bar and want to play a game of pool with your tattooed drinking budding, if you say “May I have a match please?,” grammar is perfect, but is it the right thing to say during that situation? Maybe not the perfect …show more content…
phase to say. In Gee’s essay, he mentioned about we should say or write the right thing at any moment.
No matter when you are having an appointment with a professor or partying with your friend, you must have the right attitudes, beliefs, and values. (Gee, 1989:Page 5) This is what Gee are trying to bring out, Discourse. Discourse, which is an “identity kit” in Gee’s essay. An identity kit, which included how to speak, act and write on the right time and place. It is hard to master the identity kit; you couldn’t study by reading books, going to lecture. Discourse must be practice over living, working, communicating with people, because discourse goes beyond than just speaking, it actually include ways of thinking, acting, the how we present what we say. In Gee’s essay, defines discourses. The first one is Primary Discourse, which most people learned it when they were born, in other word, native language. It is initial and contain only themselves (Gee, 1989:Page 10). The Secondary Discourse, which are learned through social group, which could be work, school, church, etc. Gee also define two types of discourses, which include dominant discourses, and non-dominant discourses. Dominant Discourses are the secondary discourses, and allow for the acquisition of social “goods” (money, prestige, status, etc.). Non-dominant discourses allow individual to be “solid” within the social
network. Gee also talk about literacy, he said that once full fluency occurs and individuals become truly literate, which mean they can be able to liberate themselves by discussing, comparing and also questioning different discourses, instead of just being a follower. In Gee’s essay, he is trying to bring out language couldn’t fully learn from textbook or lecture. It must be practice over working, interacting with people, school, church or even party. Anywhere with people, it could be practices with different discourses. Saying in right grammar doesn’t mean you are saying the right thing. Acting, thinking, saying or even writing is important. During life time, you could still be learning when you are old. Whenever you learn something, it will make you a better person, which increase your social group and also might help in your work place. Gee’s essay include all the discourses, all of them could be master and will be master by me.
U0907754
Writing 1010 – 006
10 February 2015
In “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: introduction” James P Gee presents his analysis of discourse. Gee discussed Discourse and discourse. With the capital “D which included saying, writing, doing, being, valuing, believing and so forth. The other discourse with the little “d”, it only means connected stretches of language that make sense (Gee, 1989:Page 5) Using the right grammar to talk to people it doesn’t workout every single time. For an example, you walk into bar and want to play a game of pool with your tattooed drinking budding, if you say “May I have a match please?,” grammar is perfect, but is it the right thing to say during that situation? Maybe not the perfect …show more content…
phase to say. In Gee’s essay, he mentioned about we should say or write the right thing at any moment.
No matter when you are having an appointment with a professor or partying with your friend, you must have the right attitudes, beliefs, and values. (Gee, 1989:Page 5) This is what Gee are trying to bring out, Discourse. Discourse, which is an “identity kit” in Gee’s essay. An identity kit, which included how to speak, act and write on the right time and place. It is hard to master the identity kit; you couldn’t study by reading books, going to lecture. Discourse must be practice over living, working, communicating with people, because discourse goes beyond than just speaking, it actually include ways of thinking, acting, the how we present what we say. In Gee’s essay, defines discourses. The first one is Primary Discourse, which most people learned it when they were born, in other word, native language. It is initial and contain only themselves (Gee, 1989:Page 10). The Secondary Discourse, which are learned through social group, which could be work, school, church, etc. Gee also define two types of discourses, which include dominant discourses, and non-dominant discourses. Dominant Discourses are the secondary discourses, and allow for the acquisition of social “goods” (money, prestige, status, etc.). Non-dominant discourses allow individual to be “solid” within the social
network. Gee also talk about literacy, he said that once full fluency occurs and individuals become truly literate, which mean they can be able to liberate themselves by discussing, comparing and also questioning different discourses, instead of just being a follower. In Gee’s essay, he is trying to bring out language couldn’t fully learn from textbook or lecture. It must be practice over working, interacting with people, school, church or even party. Anywhere with people, it could be practices with different discourses. Saying in right grammar doesn’t mean you are saying the right thing. Acting, thinking, saying or even writing is important. During life time, you could still be learning when you are old. Whenever you learn something, it will make you a better person, which increase your social group and also might help in your work place. Gee’s essay include all the discourses, all of them could be master and will be master by me.