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What Is Social Discourse?

A. Leverkuhn
A. Leverkuhn

Social discourse is speech or text communication that involves a social element. The definition of discourse is very broad. The word “discourse” refers to nearly all of the many ways that humans communicate with each other. A social type of discourse is communication that has a social purpose, or some kind of distinctively social aspect.

Within the general category of social discourse, experts in various fields use more specific kinds of related discourse to do research that applies to those fields. Linguists look at social communication or discourse in order to pursue technical research on language. Others in anthropology, sociology, or other social sciences may use this kind of discourse to understand elements of human psychology or behavior.

A town hall, which hosts social discourse in the form of meetings.
A town hall, which hosts social discourse in the form of meetings.

As technology widens the spectrums of all sorts of discourse, the emergence of computers, the Internet, and various software programs called social media, is leading some academics and others to take a new look at how technology shapes social discourse in particular. One very prominent example is the use of Facebook®, which, in the early 2010s, became an extremely common element of social communication and discourse for many Westerners and others around the world.

Texting is changing the English language through its use of shortcuts and new phrases.
Texting is changing the English language through its use of shortcuts and new phrases.

Facebook® as a form of social media, enables all sorts of social discourse that were not possible before this web presence was created. For example, users are able to “like” items on a Facebook® page with the simple clicking of a button. This new form untethers that discourse from speech or writing, making it instead a simple binary action.

The use of new technologies is leading researchers to look at how social discourse might be combined with advertising, the gathering of personal information, and even the illicit use of a person’s communications. When the public learns that a specific technology is compiling personal information learned through analysis of personal expression or socially oriented discourse, there is often concern that the information could be used in inappropriate ways. This is in itself becoming a new topic for discourse in mass media, as well as between individuals and various organized groups.

Social discourse includes casual conversation between people when they go out.
Social discourse includes casual conversation between people when they go out.

Other forms of social communication and discourse are not related to technology. There are many examples of this, from the “town hall meeting” of modern politics, to interactive public events related to communities, corporations, or both. Sociologists or others who want to examine social discourse have a very diverse field to choose from, and many different conclusions can be made about how this kind of discourse impacts modern life. Another major issue in modern times is how technologies like cell phone texting change the words, phrases, and even grammatical constructs commonly used for social discourse.

Discussion Comments

Certlerant

It is very discouraging to see two people sitting next to each other in a restaurant or even on their couch at home communicating in three-word bursts through a cell phone, if at all.

It makes you wonder how we got by as a society when we didn't know the minute-by-minute details of the lives of every person with whom we've ever been remotely acquainted.

A good rule of thumb is, if you wouldn't recognize a "friend" if they walked into the room you're in, the lives of those you actually do interact with on a daily basis should be more important to you.

Telsyst

The emergence of internet based social networking and texting may be having a negative affect on our interpersonal communication abilities.

We talk in code, just as we write in short bursts on social networking sites. It is sad when teachers have to actually tell a class of teenagers that texting lingo and abbreviations are not acceptable for scholarly and professional writing.

Also, take a look at any random table at a restaurant with two or more people seated at it.

Chances are, each person will look at their cell phone more frequently than they look at the other people actually sitting in their group. The same can be said for the dinner table for a lot of families.

Hopefully, we haven't lost sight of the good that can come from sitting down with a friend or relative and having a good, old-fashioned conversation.

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    • A town hall, which hosts social discourse in the form of meetings.
      By: ArTo
      A town hall, which hosts social discourse in the form of meetings.
    • Texting is changing the English language through its use of shortcuts and new phrases.
      By: seandnad
      Texting is changing the English language through its use of shortcuts and new phrases.
    • Social discourse includes casual conversation between people when they go out.
      By: Monkey Business
      Social discourse includes casual conversation between people when they go out.
    • Social discourse may occur between romantic partners.
      By: Kirill Kedrinski
      Social discourse may occur between romantic partners.
    • Emoticons have a growing presence in social discourse.
      By: Nomad_Soul
      Emoticons have a growing presence in social discourse.
    • Social networking sites are have an increasing influence on social discourse.
      By: gemphotography
      Social networking sites are have an increasing influence on social discourse.
    • Social discourse can be conducted via telephone calls.
      By: vgstudio
      Social discourse can be conducted via telephone calls.