Dialogue in and between Different Cultures - International ...

Chat Behaviour Intercultural 147
“Malinchen: *laugh* you are really something *claps herself on the
tighs* 15
Paratas: *smile* I did make you laugh then?!?!?!”
Russians, though, make use of another technique (just like Germans) as they also
feel the need to let others know what they are doing at that moment. The chatter
types a line with information about what he is doing at that moment, yet it doesn’t
have to be true, chatters often make up an unreal action to provoke or amuse other
chatters (compare chapter 5.2.6 Nonsense talk).
(36) tamer30 macht eine Flasche Bier auf - FUMP! […]
tamer30 ist für ne Zigarettenlänge weg.
“tamer30 opens a bottle of beer - FUMP! […]
tamer30 is gone to smoke a cigarette.”
(37) *** chandim подставил левую щеку […]
*** koly4ui упал в обморок
“*** chandim holds the other cheek […]
*** koly4ui passed out”
6. Conclusion
Altogether, chatters in Germany or Russia share a basic understanding of interaction
on the Internet. All typical parts of chat communication that we investigated,
among them welcoming and parting sequences, the choice of topics and
nonverbal behaviour in general, are comparable.
The welcoming sequences as well as parting sequences are similar, even the
alternate length of these sequences according to the degree of intimacy is alike in
both nations.
Naturally, our selection of topics does not mirror the variety of topics that are
present in chat rooms. But interestingly, all topics that we described came out
regularly during our attendance in the chat rooms.
Nonverbal behaviour is expressed with all means that are provided in the
Internet e.g. to avoid ambiguity or show emotions. Chatters make use of this
opportunity very often. This is remarkable in Russian as well as in German chat
rooms. Smileys are very popular and easy to create with a few graphic signs.
While Russian chat rooms are loaded with lots of small images, Germans tend to
type their nonverbal actions or emotions with special techniques that we
described.
Nonetheless our investigation did not cover all aspects of typical chat
behaviour in both nations, during our analysis the age of chatters seemed to have
an influence on the choice of topics, nonverbal behaviour and welcoming and
15 Typical gesture if someone finds something very funny