Variation in Language

The book explores variations in English in the context of Facebook as a CMC register. The analysis covers, among others, markers of politeness, informal language, emotionality, and code-switching found in English used as a native, second and foreign language. The results show differences and similarities due to the users' culture, gender and age.

The modern age has further expanded on the multifaceted character of English, which is used not only in many places in the world, but also by a variety of users in numerous contexts. Technical innovations have led to the rise of new registers and offered scholars new tools to study language variation. Set in the context of the electronic medium of social networking, and additionally enriched with findings from the field of language attitude studies, this study explores features of English used in the Inner, Outer, and Expanding Circles, here represented by the UK, India, and Poland. The analysis of the English used by Facebook members demonstrates cultural differences as well as gender and age similarities in the area of e.g. politeness, emotionality, informality or code-switching.

Autorentext

Marta Dąbrowska is Senior Lecturer at the Institute of English Studies of the Jagiellonian University of Cracow. She lectures in sociolinguistics and history of English. Her main research areas are genderlects, CMC, and language contact, in particular the area of attitudes to languages, code-switching and New Englishes.

Inhalt

Contents: Geographical and Social Variation in English - Variation vs. Gender and Age - Language Contact - Computer-Mediated Communication - Attitudes to English in the Outer and Expanding Circle - Gender and Age in the Analysis of English as a Native, Second and Foreign Language in the Facebook Medium - Code-switching on Facebook.