The Importance Of Discourse Community

There are a large number of Discourse communities exist in the world. Different people may stay in their different community or someone may take many communities. Discourse community is a way let different people, who have a same interests, using language, action, interaction, values, beliefs, symbols, objects, and tools together to place in such a way that other people can recognize them as member of their community (Gee 446). Which means those people may have their special things to show each other how they adapt in this community. People, no matter who you are, are already exist in some particular discourse community. Such as football team, church group, they all can be called discourse community. In fact, they may not recognize each other
Gee claims that “Conversation with capital C is when we talk or write, our words can relate to someone else’s words, utilizing themes, debates or motifs that the conversation is focusing"(Gee 441). Since people who in same discourse community are already familiar with each other and they work together, so when one of their member is using a certain word talk to others, it may just very briefly, they can exactly specify the main idea. Speaking of Chinese student union, the chief of OUSCSS states that their main goal is trying to help Chinese students preferably fit in school both study and life (Zheng). Such as different kinds of event they offer. Especially when Chinese students meet their big festival in china such as spring festival and mid-autumn festival, considering all of Chinese student will miss their home so much, the OUSCSS will provide an evening party for them which will includes lots of shows (Zheng). All of work they do is to provide a sense of belonging for all of Chinese student, they will have the regular meeting to announce the message or events (Zheng). Chinese students union have their own way to communicate, which is using WeChat group chat (Zheng). WeChat is a software that very common use in china. When Zheng sends message said “3p.m. whole member”. Every single one
In conclusion, although comparing to native students, the Chinese students are take a small part portion of whole students. However, I have to admit that the Chinese students union indeed can help Chinese students in some ways since the Chinese students are far from their hometown. It will provide a sense of home to let Chinese people feel they are not alone, they have a “home”. By using discourse, social identity, conversation and discourse map that can be the reason to explain the value of Chinese students