Imagine you went to the doctor’s office to get medical advice about a rash that you’ve developed - sounds weird but go with it. Instead of a properly trained, educated doctor treating you, an electrical engineer comes in to take care of you. Does this sound plausible? Not at all. Of course the electrical engineer is well educated, but not in the field you were looking for, and therefore would not trust their judgement very much, because they haven’t established authority in the specified field. This is exactly what I thought of while reading Ann Johns “Discourse Communities and Communities of Practice.”
Johns discusses that an individual acquires authority by expressing the language that the community shares. Therefore, in order to express the same language, you need to have at least some sort of education on the matter. I think of the ‘authority’ that Johns discusses goes hand-in-hand with trustworthiness. An individual gains respect and trustworthiness by showing their ability to express the sam language as their community. So, in that sense, you have to acquire authority (through values and experiences) to gain trust. Once the individual does this, people are more likely to listen to them.
In the article, Johns states, “ Prior… speaks of these academically powerful people as an ‘elite group that imposes on its language, beliefs, and values on others through control of journals, academic appointments…etc.” For every different field, category, or career, there are certain ways that individuals can acquire authority around their community. In the part that Johns wrote about, academics are able to use their education and language to acquire authority through publishing journals, an other academic papers in order to use the shared language and beliefs to a wide range of people.
In my case, in hopes of being a Physical Therapist, I will need to be able to constantly educate myself with scientific, kinesiology related terms. In addition, I would need to be on top of rehabilitation treatments and collaborate with other doctors in order to make sure I am on top of my career and everything that it encompasses to ensure I am taking the best care of my patients as possible. My staying on top of the education and current physical therapy treatments would help me establish authority. By establishing authority, I will be gaining the trust of not only my patients but of other doctors and colleagues who will view me as knowledgeable and trust me as a doctor. Jut like how Johns mentions that academically powerful people express and establish authority through writing, Physical Therapists are able to do the same. In fact, there is an official journal for the Physical Therapy Association. This along with various conferences, Physical Therapists are able to keep up with treatments and continue establish authority.
To conclude, it is important to establish authority within your community in order to gain trust. In order to acquire authority you have to show that you share the same values/ and experiences, and therefore people are more likely to listen to you as an authority figure.
Hi Sivan!
ReplyDeleteI like how you started your blog with an example which is related to what Ann Johns was talking about in her article. The situation you were referring to in your first paragraph made it easier for me to understand the idea about discourse community. I also like your explanation between your future job and the importance of establishing credibility by doing the best that you can in your studies and in your future work field. It really is important to gain the trust of your patients as well as your colleagues and the higher ups because they are the ones that will help you feel belong, believe in you and also help you grow and become your better self. Good luck on your future endeavors and hope you keep doing your best!
This was a really insightful blog. From the opening in how you represent an individual with knowledge is not necessarily one that you are looking for because they are in the wrong discourse community. The way you also aim to gain authority is well put as well. I would not have that thought of that myself.
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree that being knowledgeable and collaborating with other authorities on your field is an important part of being an authority within your discourse but at the same time I would argue that a much a larger part of being an authority within a discourse is measured by looking at what you are contributing to it. Are you publishing new research? Or are you finding new ways to apply your trade?
ReplyDelete-Shawn Eccles
Hello Sivan,
ReplyDeleteI liked the way you started your blog post. It was kind of weird to read at first, but I went with it and I totally understand the analogy. These two professionals (the doctor and the electrical engineer), although achieving similar statuses in their field do not share the same authority in the different community, and thus will not only have the right knowledge but they will also lack the proper approach, language, discourse etc. This exactly illustrates what Ann Johns is saying in her paper.
Thank you for sharing,
Phillip Tarantino
hi Sivan,
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever and effective way to start your job. It made un get hooked on what you were trying to say and painted a picture of what the entire blog was going to be. Of course, we do not want an engineer to help us with out medical problems.I agree with you that people need to establish authority in order to seem credible to the rest of the people, whether it is a doctor, physical therapist in your case, an accountant, lawyer, you name it!I liked that you included that not only do you need education, but also to have the correct values.
Thanks for sharing,
Julianna Jimenez
At first I wasn't sure where you were going with your blog but then I kept reading and it made sense. I like how you started it. Definitely that hook professors are always asking for. I think while reading I actually got to reflect on what I read in a new way. Thanks. I used to always think of a career as something you learn in school and then when you get there you're done learning but thats definitely not true!
ReplyDeleteHey Sivan,
ReplyDeleteI like the point where you liken authority to trustworthiness. It definitely makes the idea of authority more tangible to the average reader.
Your introduction where you highlight the difference between the engineer and the doctor also is a great way to illustrate the definition of authority. It shows that knowledge and expertise in one's field doesn't qualify you as being an expert in other fields.