James Gee Literacy Myth And The History Of Literacy Summary

“Literacy Myth and the History of Literacy” by James Gee a profound and insightful piece. James Gee states “what I propose in the following papers, in the main, is a way of talking about literacy and linguistics.” (Gee) The main focus that gee writes about in this pieces is when he is speaking about discourses. gees definition of a discourse is: “A discourse integrates ways of talking, listening, writing, reading, acting, interacting, believing, valuing, and feeling in the service of enacting meaningful socially situated identities and activities” (Gee) 719 This quote from Gee is quite a long quote but also quite a very important quote. It shows how discourses in writing is linked into almost everything we do. What this means is it’s not always about a specific language itself. It goes much deeper, rather the actions and experiences that make a specific group/community a discourse. For example being part of a football team itself is a discourse. You speak in words that no one else

“One can fall back on one’s primary discourse, adjusting it in various ways to try to fit it to the needed functions; this response is very common, but almost always socially disastrous.” (Gee) “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 a take on a particular role that others will recognize.” (Gee) Some people tend to use discourses that they are not part of and can come off as a pretender (trying to be someone that you are not.) If you have no access to the discourse and all of a sudden you try to use it, it will be (as Gee puts it) a social disaster. “Second language acquisition, by enculturation into social practices through scaffold and supported interactions with people who have already mastered the discourse.” (Gee) You can’t teach someone a discourse the most you can do is let them practice it with