Navigating Identity in the Persian Digital Sphere: Linguistic Practices on social media in a Globalised Era  — The Association Specialists
  1. Schedule
  2. SESSION 3: Language, media, and technology
  3. Navigating Identity in the Persian Digital Sphere: Linguistic Practices on social media in a Globalised Era 

Navigating Identity in the Persian Digital Sphere: Linguistic Practices on social media in a Globalised Era  (20350)

Shabnam SJ Jafaripour 1 , Naghmeh NE Eskandari 1
  1. Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

In today's globalised landscape, social media platforms have fundamentally transformed linguistic and communicative practices worldwide. This shift is particularly pronounced among Persian social media users, whose online presence surged after the 2009 Green Movement. Understanding how they navigate this dynamic digital terrain is crucial, given the unique socio-cultural nuances in Iran, particularly after the “Woman/Life/Freedom” movement in 2022. This study aims to delve into the intricate process of identity construction among Persian social media users on Instagram. Drawing on the sociocultural linguistic approach (Bucholtz & Hall, 2005), and incorporating theories including “re-entextualisation” (Silverstein & Urban, 1996) and “re-semiotisation”, the paper posits that identity emerges through linguistic and semiotic practices, with a focus on social and cultural influences. These concepts involve making new meanings from existing resources and repertoires, thus creating presumably independent meanings. This perspective informs our investigation into the interplay of culturally ingrained discourses, language, and the dynamic nature of identity in both physical and digital realms. This study employs digital ethnography (DE), a qualitative research method in the digital realm, to delve into the linguistic forms, practices, and behaviours of online users (Pink, 2016). The data employed stems from an ongoing DE research initiative, initiated in September 2022, examining the linguistic practices of Persian-speaking social media users. Through DE, the study reveals that Persian social media users on Instagram employ specific linguistic elements and visual symbols to meticulously craft and communicate their online identities. This sheds light on the intricate process of identity formation within the Persian digital landscape. The study also highlights the resilience of Instagram as a platform of choice for users in Iran, despite sanctions and filtering efforts. The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the process of identity construction within the Persian digital context.  

 

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