Johuana Gale S.

Flores
BAEL-3B
ELS 313 – English Discourse
September 16, 2024

Reflection Activity

Discuss the following situations (in not less than 10 sentences for each item) concerning
discourse or language-in-use. Provide real-life examples as evidence of your discussion. Write
your answer on an A4-size bond paper and shall be sent in a GDrive link that will be provided
to you no later than 12:00 pm today.

1. Think of examples of how people recognize your socially situated identity through your
use of language. For example, in what ways does your use of language reflect your age,
social class, gender, ethnic background, or nationality? Try to think of specific examples of
each of these.

Our identity, like age, social class, gender, ethnic background, and nationality, are reflected
through the language that we use. For example, in this generation or the generation alpha,
they use various words mixed from the slangs used in the internet world, memes, or different
expressions which are influenced by the trends across the world. They might say words that
are difficult to understand like “sigma” (which means somewhat like cool) and “beta” (which
means weak). Or when someone has a cool sense of fashion or somewhat stylish, they would
describe that person as “mad lit”. Through the language being used, we can definitely
differentiate someone as, for example, a member of the younger age group. Moreover, our
choice of words or our accent can predict our social class. For example, it is very common for
people from the higher social class to speak more decent or formal, or their accent is
somehow being distinguished as compared to those in lower class. When we notice the
people from lower class, especially in the Philippines, they are more fond of colloquial words
or shortened words. In written communication, we can differentiate the social class of
someone through their jejemon typings or the standard typings. As for the gender, men and
women differ in their word usage. We can notice that women use a more like inclusive
language unlike men who are pretty straightforward. The language that we speak also
determine our ethnic background. For example, we determine someone from Tacloban
through the language that they speak or from their accent. Our nationality also can be
distinguished through the way we speak. For example, we often recognize Filipinos even if
they speak English because of their accent.
2. Think of a situation you have been in where someone has meant more than what they
said in their use of language. How would the other person have expected you to work out
their answer to your request? Or perhaps someone wanted to complain to you about
something but thought it wouldn't be polite to do this directly. How did they do this
indirectly, yet still feel sure would get the point of what they are saying?

It is common for people to use language and meant the other way. People often do this to
avoid confrontation. Sometimes, they do this to be polite. For example, in class, when
someone say “It is getting really dark outside,” when they literally mean that the teacher
should dismiss the class as the teacher is still teaching overtime. They said it in that way to be
polite. Another is when someone say that they are getting cold instead of directly asking the
other person to close the window or to turn down the electric fan. People may tell a request
without telling a request directly. This is somewhat like an indirect communication and could
cause a miscommunication. This is more focused on the context itself. It is assumed by the
other party that you could pick up the “real” message through their tone, the environment,
or their gestures. Although this could instill politeness, this could also lead to
miscommunication.

3. Think of rules of communication that people seem to follow when they are using language.
For example, what are some of the rules that you follow when talking to another person?
Do you use a typical level of formality and typical forms of address (such as 'Sir', or Miss')
when they speak to another? Are there typical topics you talk about casually with any
person or stranger, and some topics you do not talk about? Are there typical ways you
start and end a conversation with another person? Do some of these depend on the
setting in which the conversation takes place, such as in a classroom, café, or any outdoor
venue?

In a conversation, we follow some rules, especially if we are in an environment where we

ought to follow those rules. For example, in a classroom, we students use “Ma’am” or “Sir” to
reflect that the person that we speak to is in authority and that we should speak in a respectful
way. On the other hand, when we talk with our friend, we drop the titles and just say “Hoy”
and use the casual speaking tone. There are also some topics that we may avoid to talk about
to strangers, like about politics, religion, and other controversial issues. Although, we could
comfortably talk about other things like how was our day or the weather. We usually start a
conversation by a greeting like “Hi!” or a simple nod. It is usually more observed in a casual
event, like with friends or close friends. In a formal setting, we usually say “Good morning,” or
a greeting depending on the kind of day. Of course, the way we build a conversation or a
sentence depends on the setting in which it takes place. For example, in a classroom, we
should opt for a more formal tone. In a café, we usually use a casual tone.
4. Think of some of the kinds of spoken or written discourse that you participate in, such as
lunchtime conversations with your friends, academic discussions with classmates, or email
messages to your teacher. What are some of the characteristic ways in which you interact
in this kind of situation? How do you typically express yourself in these situations? Is the
way in which you communicate the same or different in each of these situations? Why do
you think this is the case?

As I have said, the way we build communication depends on the environment that we are in
and the person that we talk to. During lunchtime conversations with my friends, I use casual
tone. I could also comfortably share personal experiences, or share jokes with them. In
academic discussions with classmates, although we could use a casual tone (but it is preferred
to be formal), there are some limits on things that should be talked about. Our choice of words
should be observed. Jokes are not applicable in this situation. In order to justify your point in
a certain topic, one should be direct to the point. In writing an email message to my teacher,
I usually use a formal tone as I am talking to with someone in authority. I usually start my
email with a proper subject, and a proper greeting like “Good day!”. The rest of the message
should be said in a respectful and formal manner. Notice that there is a difference in how I
communicate depending on the situation. Communication varying on the environment is
crucial in order to avoid miscommunication and also to instill respectfulness. This also reflects
on how we understand our role in the conversation, and also our relationship with the other
party.