Superficial Tests of Discourse Fluency

"Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction" and "What is Literacy," both written by linguist James Paul Gee, define and explain the presence of different Discourses in language.  A Discourse is specific way to talk and act, or as Gee puts it, is an "..."identity kit" which comes complete with the appropriate costume and instructions on how to act and talk so as to take on a particular role that others will recognize" (537).  Throughout his essays, Gee emphasizes that Discourses cannot be overtly taught, they must be acquired.  He also insists that unlike in languages, where a person might know a language but is not fluent, a person either is fluent in a Discourse or is not.  There is no in-between, no "functionally literate."

Gee explains that fluency in a Discourse of power serves as a gateway for non-mainstream people.  However, "gateway" is not synonymous with "open door."  A gate can be opened or closed.  It can be a barrier or an open door.  Unless someone is fluent in a Discourse, they will not have access to the opportunities available.  Gee talks about how people often judge fluency in a Discourse with superficial features, which are often the petty, and in the grand scheme of things, unimportant grammatical details of a Discourse. "...Superficial features are the best test as to whether one was apprenticed in the "right" place, at the "right" time, with the "right" people.  Such superficial features are exactly the parts of the Discourses most impervious to overt instruction and are only fully mastered when everything else in the Discourse is mastered" (531).   Superficial features are the test to see if someone belongs, and mastery of them can be the difference between having a gate unlocked or slammed shut.

I find myself often judging people on their use of grammar and even sentence structure when determining "how smart" they are.  Are "your" and "you're" used correctly?  What about "its" and "it's?"  At work, when reviewing resumes, I look at run-on sentences, incorrect comma use, and spelling errors as red flags.  It doesn't matter that I know what is trying to be said, or even if I see a qualified potential employee.  I only see mistakes, the signs of an outsider.  I think this contributes to why some lower-class people may encounter difficulty finding a job or climbing the socioeconomic ladder.  As Gee said, a Discourse cannot be taught, it must be acquired.  If a person is raised in a setting where the dominant Discourses, those Discourses of power, are not used, then it will be difficult to become encultured in them and master them.  The test of superficial features reveal that a person is trying to fake it, so the gate remains shut.  Then, without access to that Discourse, it will never be mastered.  This vicious circle can explain why climbing the socioeconomic ladder is so difficult.