Everyday discourse as a space of citizenship: the linguistic construction of in-groups and out-groups in online discussion boards

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze online discussion threads related to national belonging in Finland, Denmark, and France. These discussions are all related to immigration and the definition of 'legitimate' citizens. Our approach is empirical: the goal is to show how ingroups and out-groups are construed linguistically and discursively in the data and how the interactants negotiate membership categories and express their opinions regarding them. The most important in-group in the datasets consists of the nationals born in the country, whereas the out-group par excellence is formed by Muslims. The data show how the boundaries of national communities are performatively constructed through the everyday discourse of online fora, which constitute an important arena of societal debate today. This discourse draws its force from the reiteration of stereotypical generalizations and the power attached to the written word in a communication environment enabling an efficient dissemination of ideological discourse.

Geographic imagination and urban-rural binary in online discourses related to the capital region of Finland

“…It is within mundane discourses, like the ones apparent on the Suomi24 discussion forum, that this meaning is mobilized for the construction of spatially embedded social identities (cf. Määttä et al 2021). Comments about Helsinki and Hesa dwellers serve to distinguish 'us' (people living outside of the capital region) from 'them' (people living in Helsinki) and, simultaneously, to gain ownership of some of the meanings associated with the capital city.…”

Diskursiivinen ja ideologinen osallisuus – esimerkkinä tulkatut asioimistilanteet ja verkon keskustelupalstat

“…Kirjoittajien nimimerkkejä ei ole otettu mukaan analyysiin tilanpuutteen takia. Analysoidut esimerkit ovat irrallisia; keskustelujen tarkempia piirteitä ja konteksteja on selitetty tarkemmin aiemmin laadituissa kirjoituksissa (Määttä, Suomalainen & Tuomarla 2020, 2021Määttä 2023).…”