Language as a means of presenting linguocultural identity in digital communities

Abstract

This article is devoted to the study of digital discourse using the example of the communication of the online community “Warum бы и nicht” on the VKontakte platform and in the Telegram channel. The research is based on modern approaches to the study of digital discourse, including the analysis of computer-mediated discourse. It also examines the theory of code switching and its implementation in the digital format. The article identifies and analyzes the functions of the German-language component in the community’s posts, examines the phenomenon of code switching and its parameters, and explores the specifics of communication within the digital community on the two specified platforms. The article describes the structural features of the inclusion of German words in Russian-language posts, identifies the themes of the messages, and analyzes the texts of posters, posts, and comments. Special attention is given to the representation of German culture in the community’s posts. The use of two languages within the same community is a marker of its intercultural orientation, but the presence of two languages in a single message is not always a manifestation of code-switching. The use of German for a predominantly Russian-speaking audience can be used to attract attention, construct historical identity, and promote a specific cultural identity.

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