Linguistic Features Of Gender Differences In Blog Communication

Abstract

Virtual communication space possesses various features, such as subjectivity of information, interactivity, hypertextuality, global nature, creativity, anonymity and fragmented structure as well as involvement of the reader into a dialogue, a combination of different types of discourse, similar speech patterns of communication, free choice of language and specific computer ethics. The present article reveals that a blog post is a unique genre of virtual communication that can used in many formats. It is characterized by peculiar structure, linguo-stylistic means, and ways of constructing personal identity. Blog posts cover a wide range of topical issues and events that occur in modern fashion, sports, music, art and entertainment and are widely discussed by bloggers. Researchers distinguish both gender similarities and differences in English-speaking blogosphere. Gender differences in virtual communication depend on the communication settings, type of discourse and the time parameter. At this stage of the study, the analysis reveals that in female blogs the self-expression strategy is actualized by various tactics, which are in their turn, realized by the lexical and syntactical means, such as evaluative epithets with the positive connotation, the abundant use of intensifiers, lexical approximators, metaphors, comparisons, elliptical sentences, modal verbs, and emphatic constructions. In male blogs the self-description as well as the self-expression strategies are realized by jargon words and terms, slang and taboo words, logical comparisons and simile, idiomatic expressions and contracted word forms as well as interjections.