Kayla Hollins

English 101 - 17
18 September 2015

Discourse Community Map Reflection

Our minds, tell our bodies how to move, when to speak, what say and
when to say it. In different communities, our brains filter out different words
to use. Your jargon, voice inflection, and tone may change in each community.
This is often a matter of formality and respect as well as to sound
knowledgeable and reputable. Whether we are writing, speaking trying to
inform or persude, there is a goal to be achieved. Many communites require
different aspects of my language department. The way I speak within my
school and job vary differently than between my friends, family and my
relgious communities.
When I communicate with my family and friends, I can be careless and
nonchalant. As shown in my map, when we engage in communication, we do
a large amount of text messaging. Texting, majority of the time, includes
many abbreviations. There is no need for any formal talk with my family and
especially not with my friends. The goal between my family, friends and I is
to be loyal to each other, have each other's back, and making sure we are all
happy and satisfied. We use social media as another way of communication.
We are constantly communicating, all day and everyday. We sometimes send
notes and postcards if we go a long amount of time without talking to each
other. At the end of the day, we are kind and loyal to one another to make

sure we are all on good terms.

While I may informally speak with my family and friends, I
communicate differently while waitressing at my job. When I speak with the
residents of the retirement home where I am employed I speak in a formal
manner. I do speak informally with my co-workers and anyone else that is not
a resident or a guest. To get the position you have to apply then go to
multiple interviews. The last step is to attend a three day orientation. The
goals are to communicate with elderly people and co-workers in an effective
manner, also while in a fast-paced environment. Even when you build a
relationship with the resident you must strictly be formal with them. A form of
writing that is involved are the reports and evaluations that we periodically
have to submit. At this place there is a mixture of informal and formal
communication in one type of community.
My school community at Hampton University has, also, a very strong
mixture of formal and informal communications. When writing resumes and
other forms of business writing you must be very formal. Writing your
research papers and essays are another way that formal tone plays a big part
in this community. You can be informal when not professionally submitting
any essays or anything similar. Also, when communiting with your friends
through mouth or text you are being informal. To get into this communtiy you
must apply, againt thousands of other applicants, then be chosen to attend
this school. Communications, talking and writing, expands mainly through
lessons with professors and adapatations to new surroundings. This specific
discourse community is a very competative one.

My last community to present is a religious community. It is the Young

People's Division within my church. Spome different ways that we
communicate are through texting, writing letters, and emailing. Emailing is
the biggest way we communicate with one another. This community meets
up monthly, every fourth Saturday at noon. We are very formal with elderly
and the higher officials of our organization, as stated in my map. We can be
in formal with the other members of this community. Although, we often
speak formal with the members as well. We have to report to a district
directer and coordinate quarterly and yearly. We have typed up presentations
that must be presented orally as well. Some of our goals are to spread the
word of the lord to our youth. We do not limit ourselves just to the youth,
though. Our plan is to have them come and join our division and be changed.