#Twitter

Out of the social networks I have come across, Twitter’s language conventions are the most bewildering. Because Twitter places emphasis on social interaction, the language used is to directly attract the attention of other users. This is done by using an “@” symbol and writing their username. 

The other most recognizable symbol in twitter is the hash tag named for the “#” symbol before a keyword, these are used to find tweets on similar topics. In use of these symbols, participants are expected to know all about what they are reading. “Assuming information as common, the diarist fosters a sense of intimacy in the text: he or she assumes that readers (imagined or real) are “in the know,” (McNeill, 2013)

These language conventions are a reflection of change over time. “A way of expressing something that is a characteristic of a particular person, discipline or time period.” (Van Luyn, 2013)

The most interesting thing is how “diaries” or “journals” have in a sense changed over time. From being extremely personal and hidden, to, as McNeill states, “internet diaries” (McNeill, 2013) The traditional diary today, wouldn’t come close to fully representing that is created on sites such as Twitter, because nearly all of that content is created outside of Microsoft Word. Does the development of apps and of course social networking, make a diary less important?

 References:

Van Luyn, A. (2013). BA1002: Week 6, Genre [Lecture Slides]. Retrieved From: www. learnjcu.edu.au

McNeill, L. (2011). Diary 2.0?: A genre moves from page to screen, in Rowe, C. & Wyss, E.L (Eds.) Language and New Media: Linguistic, cultural and technological evolutions (pp. 313-325). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton

Add Twitter Followers: A Basic Twitter Dictionary 

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