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Structures in Discourse: Interaction, adaptability, and pragmatic functions
Edited by Martin Gill, Aino Malmivirta and Brita Wårvik
[Pragmatics & Beyond New Series 345] 2024
► pp. 58–82

Amazing – The use of English in texting between a Finland-Swedish high school girl and friends

| Åbo Akademi University

The chapter reports findings from a case study of texting between a Finland-Swedish girl and three constellations of friends. They were all more or less fluent at least in Swedish, Finnish, and English. When texting they mostly used Swedish and English, fluidly combining features from different languages. From a perspective of heteroglossia and translanguaging the study investigates the role of English features in four texting spaces, where the shares of English units vary from 8% to 89%. In all four texting spaces, English units form the majority of exclamations and emotive evaluations (51%–97%). Different types and quantities of English features contributed to the differentiation of language use and boosted group identity and peer bonding in the three constellations.

Keywords: heteroglossia, translanguaging, affect, SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook messenger
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical perspective
  • 3.Material and method
  • 4.Analysis and results
    • 4.1Ratios of named language and iconic units
    • 4.2English units
    • 4.3Pragmatic functions of English units
      • 4.3.1English for interactional and informational friendship maintenance
      • 4.3.2English units in affect guideposts
  • 5.Concluding remarks
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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