Discursive norms in blogging

DISCURSIVE NORMS IN BLOGGING Abstract The article proposes an empirical research of blogging practices associated with the negotiation of the community identity. The data are verbal exchanges on Victor Ciutacu’s blog “Vorbe Grele” [“Harsh Words”]. The participants in blogging reveal their perceptions of behaviours that are or are not appropriate to their common endeavour. According to first order approaches to verbal interaction (Watts and Locher, 2003), it is the participants’ perceptions that are worth examining for uncovering the relational work within a community of practice. Blogging interactivity is contrasted to related, but distinct media/genres of Computer-Mediated Discourse. Both technical and social norms are considered, relying on classic literature (Herring, 2007; Nardi, 2004). This theoretical framework provides the conceptual foundation that underlies the discourse analysis of the interaction between blogger and readers. The analysis extends over the context and the conditions in which the interactants produced their contributions. Blogging norms regulated by “Netiquette” are discussed in the examples offered by the research. The prohibition of blatting, chatting, deviating from the post topic receives different interpretations. The way prohibitions are imposed by the author of the blog leads to verbal clashes. In spite of the conflicts, both the blogger and the commenters share a propensity to relativize the effects of the norms. Consequently, the participant-oriented approach refers to a variety of points of view, contained by the numerous posts analysed (670). They are ideologically marked too, although the expression of loyalty is mainly implicit.