Abstract
This chapter examines the way online language users enhance social interaction and group collaboration through the computer mediated communication (CMC) channel. For this, discourse analysis based on the linguistic politeness theoretical framework is applied to the transcripts of a real time online chat. Analysis of the data shows that online participants employ a variety of creative devices to signal nonverbal communication cues that serve to build interpersonal solidarity and rapport, as well as by seeking common ground and by expressing agreement online participants increase mutual understanding and harmonious social interaction. This sets the tone of positive interpersonal relationships and decreases the social distance among participants. In turn, this engenders solidarity and proximity, which enhances social interaction through the CMC channel.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Interpersonal Communication: Communication with another person in a dyadic, public or small-group context
Solidarity: Feeling of like-mindedness between speech participants based on common background and interests
Nonverbal Communication: Messages conveyed through gesture, body language, facial expression, eye contact or prosodic features such as intonation and voice quality.
Online Chat: Text-based real time communication using instant messaging applications
Linguistic Politeness: Strategic device for reducing social friction by smoothing social interactions and avoiding conflict during social interactions
Rapport: Common and mutual understanding and harmonious verbal and nonverbal acts between speech participants
Social Interaction: A dynamic social action between speech participants
Nonverbal Communication: Messages conveyed through gesture, body language, facial expression, eye contact or prosodic features such as intonation and voice quality.
Interpersonal Communication: Communication with another person in a dyadic, public or small-group context
Linguistic Politeness: Strategic device for reducing social friction by smoothing social interactions and avoiding conflict during social interactions
Online Chat: Text-based real time communication using instant messaging applications
Solidarity: Feeling of like-mindedness between speech participants based on common background and interests
Rapport: Common and mutual understanding and harmonious verbal and nonverbal acts between speech participants
Social Interaction: A dynamic social action between speech participants