Abstract Authenticity has been a central concept in sociolinguistics and in the study of literary representations of dialect. This article examines the ideology of dialect authenticity in the context of literary fiction from the point of view of language users. Two Finnish reading groups comprising members with different dialect backgrounds read one Finnish novel, in which the Far Northern dialects of Finnish are represented in a partly unconventional manner. Thematic analysis was applied to two video-recorded reading group discussions to investigate how the groups discuss the novel’s dialect representation and its (in)authenticity. The analysis revealed that instead of adhering to a static and essentialist ideal of authenticity, the readers overlooked the unconventional representation of literary dialect and viewed authenticity as a dynamic process. The study contributes to theoretical discussions on dialect authenticity and employs an experimental approach to exploring language ideologies through reading groups.

Abstract This study compares the uses of the acronym wtf (‘what the fuck’) in digitally mediated text-based interactions in three typologically distinct languages: American English (source language), and Finnish and Chilean Spanish (recipient languages). The data consist of tweets extracted from the social media platform X. Interactional Linguistics and Digital Conversation Analysis are employed to examine the functions performed by wtf in different positions in a tweet and interaction. Instances of wtf were annotated to describe its uses in the source language and to compare them with those observed in the recipient languages. The study shows that in all three languages, wtf is used in various tweet-internal and sequential positions. These uses expressed the writer’s disbelief, astonishment, and a problem in acceptance towards prior content. The analysis concludes that the pragmatic functions of wtf in American English undergo a narrowing when it is used in Finnish and Chilean Spanish.

Abstract This article examines the use of fuck and fucking in Danish, with a focus on their interactional functions for assessing. Data consist of 76 cases found in informal Danish conversations, analyzed within the framework of Interactional Linguistics. Fuck functions as a reactive interjection that prefaces various types of clauses. However, fuck followed by a copula clause develops an assessment out of a telling. Followed by hvor ‘how’ and an adjective, fuck performs agreeing assessment. Hvad fuck ‘what the fuck’ may occur in questions. Fucking is commonly used in copula clause assessments but also within noun phrases when no response is elicited. The study concludes that the use of fuck and fucking in Danish differs from their use in English, but also from the Danish swearword fanden ‘the devil, damn’. The conclusions indicate that interactional functions and constructions are an important factor for understanding the pragmatics of borrowing and swearing.

Abstract The aim of the study is to compare the use of two different particles that are used in Icelandic conversation: the native form ha and the English borrowing what. The research questions are as follows: (1) What are the similarities and differences between the two forms in terms of turn-position, sequential placement, prosody, and functions?, and (2) What can the comparison tell us about the borrowing of discourse particles from one language to another? The data consisted of 28 hours and 36 minutes of conversation. The methodology employed in the study is that of interactional linguistics. The study shows that although ha and what have some similarities in certain environments, there are certain differences between the two forms. What is more limited in use than ha, both in terms of functions and position within a turn.

Abstract This paper presents a study focusing on the morphological variations in Southwestern Norwegian preschool children’s role-play register. Within this register, the children switch between their local Southwestern Norwegian dialect and a Central Eastern Norwegian variety similar to the Oslo dialect. Although the majority of the children (with the exception of two) employ this Central Eastern Norwegian variety in role-play, two children exhibited a significantly greater degree of usage compared to the others. Consequently, these two children were selected for an in-depth analysis. The detailed analysis reveals that while the Central Eastern Norwegian variety is used for most variables by both children, the extent to which they code-switch depends on the individual child and the specific variable in question. The observed variation across variables and between the children is examined and discussed in the paper.

Abstract This paper starts by observing that an old loan word from English, the previously unstudied Finnish response particle jep ‘yep’, has recently become more frequent and gained new interactional uses. Using Conversation Analysis as a method, the paper outlines the contemporary uses of jep in messaging interaction collected in 2015–2023. It suggests that jep does not merely function as an affirmative answer, as suggested in contemporary dictionaries. Instead, it occurs in agreement and affiliation-relevant contexts, and it is used to confirm the validity of the previous speaker’s point of view and to construct it as an opinion that is shared between the participants. Although the article focuses on synchronic analyses, it also presents observations on the changes in the use of jep, paving the way for a more diachronically oriented study on the particle.