Language Variation in #berlin

Abstract

This paper discusses aspects of language variation in German computer-mediated communication (CMC) from a sociolinguistic perspective. As yet, only a limited number of studies of CMC have been conducted within sociolinguistic frameworks; this study thus seeks to contribute towards this desideratum. This paper discusses aspects of language variation in German computer-mediated communication (CMC) from a sociolinguistic perspective. The conclusion is drawn that language use and variation in #berlin is markedly different to language variation in #mannheim, and also #hamburg, #bremen, and #koeln (cf. Androutsopoulos & Ziegler 2003 for a discussion of these four channels). Consequently, broad generalizations about tendencies of language use and variation in CMC are not substantiated. Virtual communities differ distinctly in their language use in similar ways as off-line communities.