15. Facework and identity
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Miriam A. Locher
Abstract
This chapter reviews studies which focus on Internet users’ attempts to change (challenge, reinforce, negotiate) current or past, stereotypical, individual and/or group identities in interactions. It thereby acknowledges that the literature regularly draws on various theoretical conceptions of identity. Perspectives on identity range from sociolinguistic understandings of the impact of social variables on linguistic variation to constructivist and discursive negotiations of identity as employed in conversation analysis, discourse analysis and discursive psychology. These latter approaches share a particular view of identity as a complex, emergent, context-sensitive, social, ephemeral/changing and negotiable concept. Methodologies vary according to theoretical orientation so that we find a rich mixture of quantitative and qualitative studies. In addition to addressing these different conceptualisations of and approaches to identity, the chapter also reviews a number of key themes which emerge in the literature review: the importance of (im)politeness; the impact and negotiation of gender; the construction of expertise, authenticity and trust; the surfacing of emotions; the creation of in- and out-groups and community building; and the intertwining of offline and online acts of positioning.
Abstract
This chapter reviews studies which focus on Internet users’ attempts to change (challenge, reinforce, negotiate) current or past, stereotypical, individual and/or group identities in interactions. It thereby acknowledges that the literature regularly draws on various theoretical conceptions of identity. Perspectives on identity range from sociolinguistic understandings of the impact of social variables on linguistic variation to constructivist and discursive negotiations of identity as employed in conversation analysis, discourse analysis and discursive psychology. These latter approaches share a particular view of identity as a complex, emergent, context-sensitive, social, ephemeral/changing and negotiable concept. Methodologies vary according to theoretical orientation so that we find a rich mixture of quantitative and qualitative studies. In addition to addressing these different conceptualisations of and approaches to identity, the chapter also reviews a number of key themes which emerge in the literature review: the importance of (im)politeness; the impact and negotiation of gender; the construction of expertise, authenticity and trust; the surfacing of emotions; the creation of in- and out-groups and community building; and the intertwining of offline and online acts of positioning.
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
