ODAM TABLE OF CONTENT

MORE INFORMATION (complete thesis is available at either UNISA or at the National Library of Australia or I can provide the link of the complete thesis)

Neuage, Terrell. (2005) "Conversational Analysis of Chatroom talk" University of South Australia, 452 p. + 1 CD-ROM (4 3/4 in.). National Library of Australia

 

Curricula de vita

 

   2

Bibliography ODAM Neuage-Resume Neuage-Home ~ Acknowledgements  ~ Abstract ~ Glossary

Conversational analysis of chatroom talk

by

Dr. Terrell Neuage

 

BA (Journalism), Bachelor of Arts with Honours (Children’s Literature), MA (English Literature)

 

A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

PhD

University of South Australia

2004

Chairperson of Supervisory Committee:

Professor Claire Woods

School of Communication, Information and New Media

Date Saturday, Tuesday, August 03, 2004

TABLE OF CONTENT

TABLE OF CONTENT   2

Glossary   6

Abstract   9

Declaration   12

Acknowledgements   13

1. INTRODUCTION   14

1.1 Evolution of language from early utterances to chatroom utterances  14

1.2 Internet-based communication systems  20

1.2.1 E-mail, discussion forums  23

1.2.2 Electronic chat 26

1.2.2.1 IRC   26

1.2.2.2 MUDs  28

1.2.2.1.1 MUDs vs. IRC   31

1.3 New paradigm shifts  32

1.3.1 Print to computerization  32

1.3.2 Notion of “discourse”  36

1.4 Purpose of examining on-line conversation  37

1.5 On-line usage  38

1.5.1 Problems of researching on-line  39

1.6 Are Chatrooms Public or Private?  41

1.7 Is cyberspace real?  42

1.8 Personal interest in researching on-line conversation  44

2. LITERATURE REVIEW    46

2.0 Abstract 46

2.1 Introduction  47

2.2 Technology of conversation  50

2.2.1 The World Wide Web  50

2.2.1.1 On-line communities  51

2.2.1.2 Gender issues  53

2.2.1.3 Discussion Groups  54

2.2.2 The literature of CMC   56

2.2.2.1 CMC and on-line talk-texting  57

2.2.2.2 Analysing electronic textual data  60

2.2.2.3 On-line writings on CMC   61

2.2.2.3.1 Universal language  62

2.2.2.3.2 E-mail 63

2.2.2.3.3 Role playing chat sites  64

2.3 Analysing on-line conversation  67

2.3.1 The Reader 68

2.3.1.1 The Reader as interpreter 68

2.3.1.2 The assumed or implied reader 69

2.3.1.3 The background of the reader (“mosaic of multiple texts”) 71

2.3.1.4 The role of the reader 73

2.3.2 Rules of chat 74

2.3.3 Symbolic activity in chatrooms  75

2.3.4 The language/action approach  75

2.3.5 Conversational Analysis  77

2.4   Conclusion  81

3. METHODOLOGY   82

3.1 Introduction  82

3.1.1 Qualitative research  82

3.1.2 Research techniques  85

3.1.3 Ethnographic approach  87

3.1.4 Conversation Analysis  94

3.2. Key Assumptions  96

3.3 Theoretical Framework  98

3.3.1 Assumptions  99

3.4 Protocol of a transcription methodology  104

3.5 Data collection  111

3.6 Ethical issues  116

4. CASE STUDIES   120

Case Study One  121

CS 1.0 Introduction  121

CS 1.0.1 Reason for choosing this chatroom    121

CS 1.0.2 Background to Hurricane Floyd