Expressivity in the Language of Weblogs

Bc. Kateřina Pardubová

Master's thesis

Abstract:

This thesis deals with the language of weblogs. The aim is to investigate how emotions are expressed in the genre of diary weblogs. Two groups of interest were chosen for the analysis, teenagers and adults. The differences in expressing emotions between adults and teenagers are traced up and discussed. I argue that all paralinguistic features employed to express emotion and used in computer-mediated communication (vocal spelling, lexical surrogates, spatial arrays, manipulation of grammatical markers and minus features) can be considered relatively innovative and novel means of expression. With regard to the fact that increasing age correlates with increasing conservatism in language (Eckert 1997: 1960) it can be claimed that the paralinguistic cues will be used less among adults. In addition, the analysis of the certain lexical features used to express emotions (interjections and expletives) will be provided. The assumption is that the teenagers will use these parts of speech in a different way than the adults.

Abstract:

This thesis deals with the language of weblogs. The aim is to investigate how emotions are expressed in the genre of diary weblogs. Two groups of interest were chosen for the analysis, teenagers and adults. The differences in expressing emotions between adults and teenagers are traced up and discussed. I argue that all paralinguistic features employed to express emotion and used in computer-mediated communication (vocal spelling, lexical surrogates, spatial arrays, manipulation of grammatical markers and minus features) can be considered relatively innovative and novel means of expression. With regard to the fact that increasing age correlates with increasing conservatism in language (Eckert 1997: 1960) it can be claimed that the paralinguistic cues will be used less among adults. In addition, the analysis of the certain lexical features used to express emotions (interjections and expletives) will be provided. The assumption is that the teenagers will use these parts of speech in a different way than the adults.

Keywords

computer mediated communication, weblogs, diary weblogs, emotion communication, expressive function of language, vocal spelling, lexical surrogates, spatial arrays, manipulation of grammatical markers, teenagers, adults

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 30. 11. 2009

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 17. 2. 2010
• Supervisor: doc. Mgr. Jan Chovanec, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Teacher Training for Secondary Schools / Upper Secondary School Teacher Training in English Language and Literature