Phonetic (un)consciousness of Ukrainian speakers : A Twitter discourse analysis
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| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | This study explores the phonetic (un)consciousness of Ukrainian speakers through an analysis of their interactions on Twitter in threads dedicated to discussions about transliteration rules in Ukrainian. Language and phonetic variation have long been a subject of study in sociolinguistics, with a growing interest in the influence of language exposure, and language contacts, on linguistic behaviour. By examining the tweets of Ukrainian speakers, this research investigates apparent phonetic consciousness or a lack thereof as well as strategies used in formulating arguments and ad hoc phonetic terminology. A mixed-methods approach is used to identify instances of conscious or unconscious sound perception. Preliminary results indicate that Ukrainian speakers exhibit a nuanced relationship with their phonetic perception and identity on Twitter. While some users may deliberately employ certain rules of transliteration to emphasize their linguistic identity, others (un)consciously exhibit habitual tendencies formed by the sociolinguistic environment they live in. Additionally, the study provides an analysis of the correlation between phonetic (un)consciousness and aggressive strategies of argument building. Understanding the phonetic (un)consciousness of Ukrainian speakers on Twitter sheds light on the complex interplay between online communication, linguistic identity, and sociolinguistic factors. |
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