Building on previous studies and research conducted in the conversation analysis (CA) field of repair, with special regards to repair in chat-based communication, this paper will examine the extent by which the asterisk symbol is used for repair in WhatsApp chats. Furthermore, the paper will pinpoint the environments in which it is used and try to determine patterns of usage.
As instant messaging services began to gain in numbers and importance, linguists working in the conversation analysis (CA) field started to apply the principles of CA that originally were only defined as applicable for spoken interactions onto chat-based interactions. While research initially focused more on the system of turn taking and its similarities and differences from the oral turn taking system, after the turn of the century, researchers began looking into other aspects of chat- based communication that could be analysed on the basis of CA. Among them, the aspect of repair. A very common phenomenon that occurs in online communication, and especially in WhatsApp chats, is the appearance of the little star symbol *. This symbol, called the asterisk, derived from the Greek word for “little star", serves a variety of purposes in a variety of fields, including mathematics, programming and, as we will see shortly, text messaging. While it can appear in relation to annotations, mathematical formulas and even Google search requests, in text messaging, the asterisk is most commonly used for either bolding or emphasising of words, adding information about tone or repairing a mistake that was previously made.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I Introduction
- II Introduction to the principle of repair in Conversation Analysis
- III Introduction to previous studies on repair in chats
- IV The study
- IV.I Data
- IV.II Participants
- IV.III Method
- V Quantitative analysis of results
- VI Qualitative analysis of results
- VI.I Environments of unmarked repair
- VI.II Use of the asterisk in self-repair
- VI.III Use of the asterisk in other-repair
- VII Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the use of the asterisk (*) symbol in repair within WhatsApp chats. It explores the environments in which the asterisk is used and attempts to identify patterns of usage. The research builds upon previous studies in Conversation Analysis (CA) focusing on repair in chat-based communication.
- The use of the asterisk (*) symbol in repair in WhatsApp chats
- The environments in which the asterisk is used for repair
- Patterns of usage of the asterisk in repair
- The application of CA principles to chat-based communication
- The comparison of repair in chat-based communication to spoken interaction
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter introduces the topic of repair in WhatsApp chats and provides context for the research. It discusses the rise of instant messaging services and the growing importance of WhatsApp as a communication platform. The second chapter delves into the principle of repair in Conversation Analysis, outlining the four types of repair and their respective components. The third chapter explores previous studies on repair in chats, highlighting the work of Schönfeldt and Golato (2003), which demonstrated the applicability of CA principles to chat-based communication.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Conversation Analysis, repair, WhatsApp, chat-based communication, asterisk (*), self-repair, other-repair, online interaction, instant messaging, digital communication, text messaging, linguistic analysis.
- Quote paper
- Marie Will (Author), 2021, The use of the asterisk symbol in repair in WhatsApp chats, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1369016
