As a Type 1 Diabetic, I had no choice but to be introduced to the discourse community of Diabetics. While I did not have to assimilate into the group, I do have to acknowledge the presence of a group because of the health care professionals and fellow Diabetics around me. Gee explains, “A Discourse is a sort of “identity kit” which comes complete with the appropriate costume and instructions on how to act, talk, and often write, so as to take on a particular role that others will recognize” (Gee 484). Swales expands on the term that Gee introduces by defining what is required of a group to be considered a discourse community.
The first requirement of a discourse group is that it has a “broadly agreed set of common public goals”, as Swales defines. Diabetics and non-Diabetics alike who are part of the discourse community recognize that the common goal of the community is to eventually find a cure for the disease. JDRF, for example, which stands for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, publishes a newsletter every so often that details the new advancements that have been discovered in the pursuit of a cure. Non-diabetics can be a part of the discourse group as well, which seems odd considering that the community is based on the disease. Swales describes that the discourse group is defined by the common set of goals, not the shared object of study; any person who is involved in discussions where the end goal is a cure for Diabetes could possibly be a part of the discourse community.
The second requirement to be considered a discourse group is that it have mechanisms of intercommunication among its members. As I mentioned previously, the JDRF newsletter is sent out to any person who subscribes and it is a way of communicating information to a community of people that are located across the world. In addition, Diabetes Forecast magazine discusses new technology that has recently been released or could possibly be released in the near future. This magazine not only discusses the scientific nature of the disease, but it also attempts to speak about the daily aspects of living with it that often go unnoticed by people who are not involved with it daily.
The next requirement that Swales defines as a necessity for being a discourse community is not so much a requirement for the group; instead, it is a requirement for a person to be involved in the community. Swales states that the members must be participants in the uptake of information and not just a passive member of a community. Personally, I consider myself to be a member of the Diabetic discourse community not just because I am subscribed to magazines and newsletters, but also because I read the information closely and follow several fellow Diabetics on Instagram who I feel display the daily struggles in a humorous manner. In this community, there are several genres of literature: newsletters, magazines, and Instagram posts being some that I have already mentioned. There are also blog posts, TV commercials, websites, pamphlets, and books dedicated to the topic.
The lexis of the Diabetic discourse community is shared by medical professionals as well because of the medical background needed to begin to understand the disease. Bolus, insulin, checking my blood, and ketones are only a few of the terms that I use daily. To an outsider, my telling my parents that I am high would seem strange and the contrast of telling them that I am low is just as confusing. Diabetics and people who have been around the Diabetic community for some time would understand, however, that my being “high” has nothing to do with marijuana and instead is just slang for my blood sugar is higher than it should be. What separates the lexis of the Diabetic discourse community from the medical community is the slang that Diabetics use. Doctors are not exposed to the slang as much as the Diabetic community is because they rarely are exposed to the daily habits and steps that proper blood glucose management entails. Yes, they understand what is done in theory, but until they witness the daily life of a Diabetic they will not understand the lingo. And that is what defines a proper lexis for a discourse community.
The last, and I believe most important, requirement to be considered a discourse community is the presence of a hierarchy. Because the common goal of the group is the cure for Diabetes, the top level of the hierarchy contains the scientists and researchers who dedicate their time to finding a solution. They have the most power and the most credibility when it comes to the subject because they have the correct academic background to be a source of authority. The second tier I believe contains the Diabetics who live with the disease. Because they are exposed to every aspect of the condition, they understand not only some of the scientific background but also the lifestyle. The last tier contains the non-Diabetics who are interested in finding a cure, be it for a family member or just because they feel a moral responsibility to the cause. These people often don’t have the scientific background to be a reputable source and unless they are very close to a Diabetic, they most likely are not exposed to the lifestyle either. They do however have the interest and the access to the mechanisms of intercommunication.
I have never wished to not be a part of the Diabetic discourse community. I have wished to not be a Diabetic, but the discourse community is helping to cure Diabetes. I do not agree with everything that is published and I believe that the public should be more informed about Type 1 Diabetes especially instead of basing their knowledge on memes and commercials. This community that I am a part of, however, shares my concerns and hopes for the future.
Just as I am part of the discourse community of Santa Clara University students, so am I part of the Diabetic discourse community. While I can leave the former, I will still always have been a Santa Clara University student. Similarly, while I can distance myself from the texts and the literature of the Diabetic community, I will still be a Diabetic. As a student, we share the goal of graduating from a prestigious Jesuit university and finding a good job after we graduate. As a Diabetic, we share the goal of finding a cure for this disease that affects millions. While they are based on very different backgrounds, both discourse communities require the member to voluntarily participate in the discussions and to be interested, if not enthusiastic, about the end goal.
Works Cited
Gee, James P. “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction.” Journal of Education 171.1 (1980): 5-117. Print.
Swales, John. “The Concept of Discourse Community.” Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings. Boston: Cambridge UP, 1990: 21-32. Print.