English 2150 Blog

Summary: Gee talks about the term language and how it is not just grammar and the dialect but also the way one speaks the language is just as important. The author later introduces us to a term called Discourses. He says that discourses are how one uses language of thinking and acting to be accepted or be part of a group or network. Discourse is something that is not taught to somebody but is in a way made inside of you. It is made based on the people you interact with, where you grow up, and just a certain lifestyle that you like to follow.

Evaluation: I think Gee’s definition and idea of Discourse is very interesting. I agree with most of Gee’s claims that Discourse is a thing that is sort of shaped into you based on your lifestyle. One thing I do not agree with is when he states that learning two discourses helps with the primary discourse just like speaking two languages. I speak two languages and i believe that if, I or other people who are bi- lingual,  only spoke English, that my English vocabulary would be much better.

Data collection from October 7 12 p.m to October 8 12 p.m.

12 p.m – 1 p.m:

• Told my mom and aunt that I was going to work in Bengali.
• Called my brother to pick up the car from the mechanic in slang English.

1 p.m – 4 p.m:

• Spoke to customers at my work in almost formal English.
• Spoke to my manager and supervisor in semi formal English to fix the back stock of Home Depot.
• Spoke to co workers and friends in slang and semi formal English.
• Texted my high school friends in a group chat about random things in text/slang English.

4 p.m – 5 p.m:

• Told my manager that I was taking my lunch break in almost formal English.
• Met up with another co worker and spoke to her in informal English on where she wanted to go to eat.
• When I got to Oxido I ordered my food in formal English.
• Talked to my friend about different things in informal English.
• Texted my brother in informal/text English.

5 p.m – 8 p.m:

• Spoke to customers in formal English about products in the store.
• Spoke to manager about completing some online tutorials.
• Told my manager and colleagues that I was leaving work in semi formal English.

8 p.m – 9 p.m:

• Texted my cousin that I was coming home in slang.
• Texted my friends about more random things in slang and semi-formal English.

9 p.m – 12 a.m:

• Came home and spoke to my cousin about a customer at work in slang English.
• Spoke to my mom in Bengali about what she was cooking.
• Played NBA 2K18 with my cousin and spoke to him in slang.
• Texted my friends about more random things in slang English.

12 a.m – 12 p.m:

• Went to sleep
• Texted my mom in formal English that i was leaving to go to work.