Digital language variation in context: interactional and computational synergies (DiLCo)

Language changes over time: this holds true for both spoken and written language. The latter is especially evident in conversational use of writing in social media. Characters are creatively used to communicate more than just the meaning of the words.

This international network explores the creative use of written language features, such as spelling, punctuation and emojis, for the expression of emotions, irony, hate, as well as locally marked registers of language. Its research scope is not limited to German and English, but involves a range of languages represented in the network, including Chinese, a writing system that offers other creative possibilities than the Latin alphabet of German and English. The network is innovative in bringing together researchers in a transdisciplinary dialogue of qualitative and quantitative methods.

The group consists of internationally renowned scholars and includes doctoral students. It organizes annual workshops that are partly open to the public.