Interactivity and Playful Language on Twitter

Seminar paper from the year 2013 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,0, University of Wurzburg (Englische Sprachwissenschaft), course: Computer-Mediated Communications, language: English, abstract: Language and punctuation can be used interactively on Twitter, as can be seen not only in the creative use of punctuation marks to address others (@) and to tag common topics (#) but also in the use of netspeak. In a first section the notion of interactivity is clarified, before examining the three interactive elements @, # and RT. Next to their functions on Twitter, more insights into the history and in the meaning of these elements are given. Especially by describing the interactive functions of the hashtag on Twitter, it is shown how electronic discourse can increase our awareness of others. Therefore, the concept of ambient affiliation, coined by Michele Zappavigna, will be examined.