Internet discourse

[Nancy Patterson]

I did some research last year on synchronous computer mediated conversation
and found that vocatives are used very differently in synchronous CMC than
they are in casual face to face conversation.  Vocatives in casual face to
face conversations are often used to exclude another speaker, or as a
confrontational device.  But in synchronous CMC they are used as involvement
strategies.  This is very different and rather interesting.  If speakers did
not use vocatives in synchronous CMC, the conversation would be very
confusing.  Vocatives provide markers for readers/participants so they can
stay involved in the conversation and sort the various responses that roll
down their screens.

Nancy

At 12:01 PM 11/22/99 -0500, you wrote:
>Hi all (esp. Lise),
>
>	I think of electronic discourse as a hybrid of both oral and print
>media. Many of the features that we find in informal conversation are
>combined with things specific to print. In fact, emoticons (e.g., ;), :(,
>etc.) exploit a feature of print (that is, punctuation) to suggest
>something like a paralinguistic cue.
>
>Chris
>
>
Nancy G. Patterson
Portland Middle School, English Dept. Chair
Portland, Michigan

"To educate as the practice of freedom is a way of teaching that anyone can
learn."  bell hooks

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