Creating a Self-Image
Face-Work and Identity Construction Online
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21248/jfml.2019.20Schlagworte:
Nicknamen, Nicknames, Benutzernamen, Facwork, Social Media, Soziale Medien, OnomastikAbstract
In this article, we build on research arguing that linguistic self-representation on social media can be viewed as a form of face-work and that the strategies employed by users are influenced by both a desire to connect with others and a need to preserve privacy. Drawing on our own analyses of usernames as well as that of others which were conducted as part of a large-scale project investigating usernames in 14 languages (Schlobinski/T. Siever 2018a), we argue that these conflicting goals of wanting to be recognised as an authentic member of an in-group while retaining a degree of anonymity are also observable in the choice of username. Online self-naming can thus be viewed as a key practice in the debate of face-work on social media platforms, because names and naming strategies can be studied more readily than broader and more complex aspects, such as stylistic variation or text-image interdependence, while at the same time forming part of these.
Downloads
Veröffentlicht
Versionen
- 2021-02-25 (3)
- 2020-07-03 (2)
Zitationsvorschlag
Ausgabe
Rubrik
Lizenz
Copyright (c) 2020 Dr. Saskia Kersten, Dr. Netaya Lotze
Dieses Werk steht unter der Lizenz Creative Commons Namensnennung - Weitergabe unter gleichen Bedingungen 4.0 International.