What Do You Mean?
Weixin ‘WeChat’ as a Translanguaging Space for Transnational African Doctoral Students in China View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Kelechukwu Ihemere
In their article, Guo et al (2022: 1-2) observe that the “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) of 2014 created more opportunities, unprecedented convenience, and stronger incentives for international students and employees to come to mainland China. This paper focuses on the languaging practices of multilingual transnational African doctoral students in mainland China who come together on the Chinese social media/instant messaging application known locally as Weixin and internationally as ‘WeChat’. On this social media platform involving people from different countries, linguistic backgrounds and language communities, language choice becomes an important issue. Utilising empirical data from social media posts among multilingual African doctoral students on WeChat, this paper examines strategies of language choice and negotiation. It draws on the sociolinguistic framework of translanguaging space, the sociolinguistics of translanguaging and computer-mediated discourse analysis to explore how language users bring together different dimensions of their personal histories, experiences, and environments; their attitudes, beliefs, and ideologies; their cognitive and physical capacities, into one coordinated and meaningful performance on WeChat. In this way, this paper contributes further to our understanding of the sociolinguistic implications of super-diversity, the critical role that digital mediation plays in its development and maintenance, and the emergence of new multimodal forms of communication.
Comparative Socio-Cognitive Analysis of Arabic and English News Headlines: The Case of Abu Akleh View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Rima Jamil Malkawi
This study investigates the ideological manipulation of language within news media headlines regarding the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. This study employs Van Dijk’s socio-cognitive model of Critical Discourse Analysis to conduct a comparative qualitative analysis of 100 Arabic and 100 English news headlines, exploring linguistic features at both microstructure and macrostructure levels. The analysis delves into identity construction for the victim and assailant, revealing the discursive linguistic manifestations of underlying ideologies in two distinct linguistic and cultural contexts. The study uncovers the cognitive interplay between news media outlets and their target audience, demonstrating how selective headlines influence comprehension and interpretation, particularly within the broader context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ultimately, this research sheds light on the dynamic relationship between language, ideology, and power within the realm of news media while emphasizing the comparative aspect of the analysis.
Misinformation Matrix: Crafting Standards for a Truthful Online Realm
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Lubna Daraz
The rise of information and communication technologies as a primary information source has transformed how people, regardless of their backgrounds, access information. Ensuring the reliability and accuracy of online content is crucial. However, studies highlight a significant gap in meeting these standards. Inadequate digital health literacy can profoundly impact individuals' ability to health communication, therefore impacting their well-being, and quality of life. To address this challenge, various guidelines have been developed to help people discern between credible and misleading information online. Yet, these guidelines often lack theoretical foundations, validation across diverse populations, and consistent quality standards. Through a methodical content analysis of existing guidelines, we have identified and validated 9 key principles for evaluating the trustworthiness of websites namely, Authorship, Reliability, Ownership, Usefulness, Disclosure, Accessibility, Source, Design, and Confidentiality. These essential principles are shared with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including governments, media outlets, community partners, and policymakers to measure their viability and applicability. Based on the feedback received, we craft user-friendly guides and policy frameworks to combat online misinformation effectively. This collaborative endeavor aims to empower individuals to make informed decisions and cultivate a healthier online environment for everyone.
