James Gee defines sign and systems as different forms of communicating within a language. By this, he is discussing the different types of secondary Discourses, for example, the Discourse for different sports, different levels of education, and more. We see Gee explain this in more detail here, “We can use language to make certain sign systems and certain forms of knowledge and belief relevant or privileged, or not, in given situations; that is, we can use language to build privilege or prestige for one sign system or way of knowing over another.”(35 Gee Building tasks) Gee is saying that within certain privileges (knowledge of scientific Discourses,) there is a set of signs or systems that all scientist know, for example, the use of scientific names. To be able to be part of the scientific Discourse you have to know these specific signs and systems so when you communicate with other scientists so you both can communicate efficiently. I agree with what Gee is saying about the importance of knowing the signs and system in your secondary Discourse, we also see this discussed in the Nair Nair Chapter 2 Organization of a Research Paper: The IMRAD format. Nair Nair, write about how to use the IMRAD format, which is a form of scientific writing that is a system that everyone in the scientific Discourse understands how to read and write in this form. Nair Nair defines this idea, “These are words by which the paper should be indexed by abstracting services. Words that appear on the title should not be repeated as keywords because titles and keywords are listed together by abstracted services.”(16) Nair Nair. Within scientific writing, they use certain keywords that help readers understand what the point is of the paper. It is also how other scientists know that the journal is written by someone who also has knowledge in what they are writing about because of the type of the diction they use.The diction they use contains symbols and words that the only scientist in that discourse would understand the deeper meaning while lamens will be able to get a more basic understanding.
In Gees Building tasks he discusses connections, which is when languages can make connections to other activities like participating in a Discourse, or while reading a journal in a that Discourse. People are able to make connections from the language so we are able to easily understand what is being discussed. We tend to make connections to almost everything, “Often, we have to make such connections. Even when things seem inherently connected or relevant to each other, we can use language to break or mitigate such connections.” (35 Gee Building tasks) Connecting to readings and conversations is very important to be able to participate in new Discourses, and intellectual conversations. While reading we tend to try to connect our own personal ideas and experiences to what the author is talking about, this is also done while reading scientific articles which is know as rhetorical reading. Gee is saying if we find a way to connect to the writing it will be easier to understand the Discourse. Which can be best proven by Haas, who did an experiment with a student who was learning to join the biology Discourse. As she got into her senior year she was able to connect what the scientific author was saying to her own work. This gave her the ability to better understand what she was doing with her own studies. “She viewed texts may have reflected her continuing dual roles, functioning both as a budding scientist taking her place in the community and as a student, […]”(68 Haas) This quote from Haas also shows how it is important to be able to make connections between you and the authors. This helps when she is participating in the discourse so her language she uses with others are formal form and follow the Discourse. Making connections is the best way to personalize your learning, so you will be able to apply what you learn more often than others.
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