Abstract
Do-It-Yourself discourse (DIY discourse) is communication aimed at teaching laymen to do professional processes and exchanging experiences in professional spheres. It is a very called-for tool for non-vocational training. DIY discourse comprises non-verbal, verbal, and polycode texts. In this research we analyzed general characteristics of DIY discourse. On the first stage of our research we selected articles from www.wikihow.com that teach the lay audience how to do different things. On the second stage of the research we analyzed genres that occur in the computer-mediated environment and polycode texts that represent the computer-mediated communication (CMC) in the DIY discourse. From a semiotic point of view, non-verbal texts are an emblem of a professional process, verbal texts provide a symbol side, and polycode texts combine an emblem and a symbol. We have found out that DIY discourse comprises several genres with different semiotic codes. It can have non-verbal, verbal and polycode format. We have come to the conclusion that polycode texts are the specific feature of computer-mediated communication. They are widely employed in DIY discourse to achieve a more profound comprehension of the professional processes.
Highlights
A lot of researches are interested in different discourses [1,2], and many of them are connected with computer technologies
We discuss a polycode text with its hybrid nature as a new type of computermediated communication, which has appeared due to the computer literacy of participants of communication
It is a sphere where we can find amateurs. They communicate informally, and computer technologies broadened the boundaries of such communication. It has acquired a new type of texts – polycode texts, which will be discussed further in detail
Summary
A lot of researches are interested in different discourses [1,2], and many of them are connected with computer technologies. Do-It-Yourself science combines features of professional discourse, educational discourse, and science, attracting a lot of people both professionals and laymen who are eager to exchange information and experience with each other [6]. Do-It-Yourself discourse (DIY discourse) is a kind of discourse that happens among people who share same interests in Do-It-Yourself (DIY) and exchange their knowledge and experience. This sphere is of interest for linguists for a number of reasons. The aim of this article is to describe characteristic features of computer-mediated communication in DIY discourse
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