The words we choose matter.

It makes a difference whether I say, “What do you want to eat tonight?” or “Where would you care to dine this evening?” even though both of those questions supposedly mean the same thing. Language doesn’t just impart meaning, it tells us something about who the speaker (or writer) is, what communities they are a part of.

We’re all members of multiple communities, each with their own specific language rules. You’ve already watched a couple of videos about aspects of it:

  • Mohamed Hassan talked about his name, how names matter, and how the language of those names can label us in any number of ways.
  • Jamilla Lysicott talked about how she speaks three different Englishes depending on which discourse community she’s in, even if she didn’t say ‘discourse community.’

For this unit, we’ll look at three more examples of how words and language matter to a discourse community:

  • In an excerpt from The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, author Junot Diaz looks at one word from his community (“fuku”) that has so much power it rules his whole country. He wants his readers to know the importance of this word because he thinks it affects them too. 
  • Queen Latifah writes about how important it is to her to be called a “queen” and not a “b**ch,” even though so many rappers think it’s fine to talk about women that way. 
  • Perri Klass’ essay is about how she had to learn the language of being a doctor in order to fully become part of her profession.

In Essay One, you will write about the language of a community you are a part of. Tell your readers, mostly outsiders from this community, what it means, how it works, why it matters. Is it meant to include people? Create a special kind of community? Exclude people?

Show us the language in action – tell us a story or two about it. Show it being used!

You might write about the language of your community by outright explaining it to us, or you might just… use the language of your community in writing to show us how it’s done! In other words, you are free to write in any way that feels natural to you and that you think best expresses the importance and meaning of the word you choose. You may write in what you consider the language of your community. You may write in “standard written English,” (SWE) if you like. Either way, even if you write in SWE, you should be able to explain why you’ve chosen the language you have. Why is this language the best tool for the job?

So what’s the bottom line: what are you writing? A story! This isn’t a research report. It’s you telling us about a part of your life. 

Remember: you need to make a point, not just ramble about language. Diaz’ point is that the fuku came from the Dominican Republic and to the US, and American readers should pay attention, lest they get cursed with a fuku too! Latifah’s point is that language matters– she’s not a bi**ch, she’s a queen. Klass makes the argument that you can only become part of a profession if you use its language, which means it’s all about power and inclusion. Lysicott makes the same argument and shows us how our language use can change depending on our discourse community. And Hassan simply talks about the power of words and culture.

What will I be graded on?

  • Audience: Aside from me, who would you want to read an article about your community? Are you writing in a way that would reach that audience?
  • Organization/Structure: Now, consider your audience further. What can you do to keep them reading? Nobody on this earth will read an essay that is one three-page long paragraph or just a random list of thoughts about this word. You wouldn’t!  So, strive for an engaging, clear article with a point that readers can follow.
  • Purpose: KEEP thinking about your audience. Is your essay teaching your readers something or helping them see something in a new way? Do your readers know why we are talking about the word or phrase you’ve chosen?  DO YOU HAVE A MAIN POINT or are you just rambling about the word/phrase?
  • Diction (language choice): You can write with whatever diction (style of language) you choose, but it must be the best language for the job– as you see it. It also must be at least partially in English. That is, you may write in Spanglish if you want, but I am not able to read a whole paper in Urdu or Chinese characters. (Some Urdu is great, though, and I’ve had students do both!) Take note of the way Diaz goes in between Spanish and English, though he is writing for an English-speaking audience.
  • Engagement with “mentor texts”: I’m not asking you to quote from Diaz or Klass your final essay—you are just using them as examples of ways you could go with this type of assignment. I do expect you to read the articles closely as a writer (and I’ll know if you have, thanks to Perusall) and choose at least one technique or style of their writing that you would like to emulate (scenes, setting descriptions, dialogue, etc.).
  • WORD COUNT: At least 1000 words
  • Due Date: Feb 21 at the end of the day

Here are some questions and ideas to think about before you begin writing. This may give you some ideas to get started, but your essay shouldn’t be just a list of answers to these questions!

  1. When were you first aware of this ‘discourse community’ version of language? Growing up? Meeting different cultures? Learning about a new profession or job?
  2. Is there a way using this language correctly indicates membership in the community?
  3. Who is allowed to use it and who is not? Or how does the language change when people from outside the community try to become part of the community?
  4. Who do you think needs to know about this word? What do they need to know? Why?
  5. Brainstorm scenes and memories, important events having to do with this word.
Print this page