Blog Post #3- Kate Kernien

James Paul Gee discusses the idea of literacy in “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction” and “What is Literacy.” He defines two main words that characterize literacy: Discourse and discourse. Though they look like the same word, they have very different meanings. Gee writes, “Thus, what is important is not language, and surely not grammar, but saying (writing)-doing-being-valuing-believing combinations. These combinations I call ‘Discourses,’ with a capital ‘D’ (‘discourse’ with a little ‘d,’ to me, means connected stretches of language that make sense, so ‘discourse’ is part of ‘Discourse’) (526).” Discourse with a small “d” is just a small fraction of Discourse. Discourse with a big “d” is everything that is you have to master in order to be part of that Discourse. This includes things such as attitudes, beliefs, clothes, and gestures. I belong to many Discourses. I have mastered my home Discourse, school Discourse, and work Discourse. I have mastered these through people teaching me how to act in these different Discourses. In my school Discourse, I follow the rules, pay attention in class, and I answer questions politely when asked. I wear jeans and a shirt usually and use good grammar. Home Discourse was my “primary Discourse” or the first Discourse I mastered. At home, I am more relaxed. I don’t need to speak perfectly and I can dress however I want. I do not have to be very formal or watch how I act. In my work Discourse, I dress very formal at work, usually in black pants and a dressy shirt. I have to be very polite and watch how I act. I cannot goof around or mouth off to anyone. It’s a much stricter atmosphere than the other Discourses I have. I have witnessed some other Discourses. One Discourse was other friend’s homes. One of my friends is very religious and I always have to watch how I speak and make sure to pray before dinner. I am not familiar with this Discourse because that is not how my family is.

Gee describes literacy as a mastering of a secondary Discourse, “Thus, I define ‘literacy’ as the mastery of or fluent control over a secondary Discourse” (529). A secondary Discourse is one that requires many other Discourses to master it. Gee states, “Each of these social institutions commands and demands one or more Discourses and we acquire these fluently to the extent that we are given access to these institutions and are allowed apprenticeships within them” (527). One has to be fluent in all the Discourses that are required by the secondary Discourse so that it allows us to be a part of the institutions. Therefore, Gee states literacy is the mastery of several discourses that allow you access to the secondary Discourses. I agree with his definition of literacy. I believe literacy involves more than just speaking well and being able to read. Literacy incorporates things such as tone, attitudes, beliefs and many others. In order to be literate, one must have experiences and have mastered secondary Discourses. Mastering a secondary Discourse requires experiences that one gains from other Discourses so they all go hand-in-hand. This has not changed my view on literacy. I have always thought literacy entails the acquisition of multiple things, rather than just being able to read and write.