8. Twitter
-
Michele Zappavigna
Abstract
This chapter explores the language of microblogging by focusing on discourse produced via Twitter, a popular microblogging service. In the first section I consider microblogging as a semiotic practice, trace its historical development and investigate the interdisciplinary research into this form of communication. My focus will be on linguistic work in the areas of pragmatics and discourse analysis which explores the dominant communicative conventions that have arisen via Twitter, such as retweeting and hashtagging. I will then turn to the social concept of what Zappavigna (2012) terms ‘searchable talk’, i.e. discourse which renders opinion and sentiment readily findable through resources such as social tagging. The chapter concludes by suggesting the important role that ambient affiliation plays in microblogging by forging communities through negotiating values, an issue to which I will return in my chapter on evaluation in social media (cf. Ch. 16, this volume).
Abstract
This chapter explores the language of microblogging by focusing on discourse produced via Twitter, a popular microblogging service. In the first section I consider microblogging as a semiotic practice, trace its historical development and investigate the interdisciplinary research into this form of communication. My focus will be on linguistic work in the areas of pragmatics and discourse analysis which explores the dominant communicative conventions that have arisen via Twitter, such as retweeting and hashtagging. I will then turn to the social concept of what Zappavigna (2012) terms ‘searchable talk’, i.e. discourse which renders opinion and sentiment readily findable through resources such as social tagging. The chapter concludes by suggesting the important role that ambient affiliation plays in microblogging by forging communities through negotiating values, an issue to which I will return in my chapter on evaluation in social media (cf. Ch. 16, this volume).
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Table of contents xi
- 1. Log in: Introducing the pragmatics of social media 1
- 2. Participation as user involvement 31
- 3. Participation as audience design 61
- 4. Publicness and privateness 83
- 5. Message boards 125
- 6. Blogs 151
- 7. YouTube 173
- 8. Twitter 201
- 9. Social Network Sites/Facebook 225
- 10. Discourse and organization 245
- 11. Discourse and topic 275
- 12. Discourse and cohesion 317
- 13. Discourse and cognition 345
- 14. Discourse and ideology 381
- 15. Facework and identity 407
- 16. Evaluation 435
- 17. Politeness and impoliteness 459
- 18. Flaming and trolling 493
- 19. Narration 523
- 20. Fandom 545
- 21. Getting “liked” 575
- 22. Conflictual and consensual disagreement 607
- 23. Compliments and compliment responses 633
- 24. Requesting and advice-giving 661
- About the authors 691
- Name index 699
- Subject index 721
- Preface to the handbook series v
- Acknowledgements ix
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Table of contents xi
- 1. Log in: Introducing the pragmatics of social media 1
- 2. Participation as user involvement 31
- 3. Participation as audience design 61
- 4. Publicness and privateness 83
- 5. Message boards 125
- 6. Blogs 151
- 7. YouTube 173
- 8. Twitter 201
- 9. Social Network Sites/Facebook 225
- 10. Discourse and organization 245
- 11. Discourse and topic 275
- 12. Discourse and cohesion 317
- 13. Discourse and cognition 345
- 14. Discourse and ideology 381
- 15. Facework and identity 407
- 16. Evaluation 435
- 17. Politeness and impoliteness 459
- 18. Flaming and trolling 493
- 19. Narration 523
- 20. Fandom 545
- 21. Getting “liked” 575
- 22. Conflictual and consensual disagreement 607
- 23. Compliments and compliment responses 633
- 24. Requesting and advice-giving 661
- About the authors 691
- Name index 699
- Subject index 721
- Preface to the handbook series v
- Acknowledgements ix
