#1: Barclay’s Formula

Moving into a dominant discourse may, as Gee suggests, means giving up primary discourse values but it ultimately depends on the circumstances.  Gee states,”…true acquisition of many mainstream Discourses involves, at least while being in them, active complicity with value that conflict with one’s home and community-based Discourses…”.  This means that when you are trying to transfer into a new discourse one needs to let go of your primary discourse values because they can create a conflict between your old and new discourse.  This is true depending on what discourse you were a part of and the discourse you want to be a part of.  On the other hand Delpit states,”Acquiring the ability to function in a dominant discourse does not mean that one must reject one’s home identity and values.”  Delpit states this to show that you do not need to let go of your past discourse to become part of a new, future, discourse.  Gee and Delpit both have opposite stances on whether or not one should or should not let go of values from a past discourse in order to not clash with your new discourse.  I believe that they both are right in their stances because ultimately it depends on the discourse you come from and the discourse you are switching to.

One thought on “#1: Barclay’s Formula

  1. Erica,
    I understand that you think both Gee and Delpit are correct. If you were given a situation you may of been able to agree with one more than the other. The question given was kind of broad I think you are correct with it depends on the situation weather or not you need to let go of your primary discourse or not. Although in what kind of situation do you think one would need to leave their primary discourse in order to join a secondary discourse? In your post you did a great job at setting up your quotes and explaining what they were saying. I like both of the quotes you used to explain your claim of leaving a primary discourse depends on the situation giving to an individual.

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