Um estudo da emergência de gêneros no Facebook

Abstract

This research aims at investigating criteria which mark the emergence of discourse genres phenomenon present in social network, especially on Facebook. Such genres take place in digital support, as well as in their generic blends that constitute language practices on the web. This study is led by a Bakhtinian language conception (BAKHTIN, 1929) and a social rhetoric genre perspective (MILLER, 1984; 1994; BAZERMAN, 2005). Besides, in search for a concept of emergence, this investigation was based on the Complexity Theory which supports the Complex Adaptive System (LARSEN-FREEMAN, 2008). In order to achieve its aim, this research was divided into two methodological parts: firstly, we selected 331 updated posts out of Facebook news feed from April 2011 to December 2012, which standard criteria were laid on the fact that these latter presented 100 shares and 100 likes. Secondly, we took a sample out of this corpus, divided it into eight questionnaires developed in to the Google Docs tool, each one carrying, at least, three posts. After that, we posted these same posts on Facebook for two months, so that the network users throughout the five regions of Brazil could post their opinion over the genres therein presented. At last, this study found 575 users’ answers to be helpful to map eight discourse genres characteristics under emergence on Facebook. Based on these latter ones, we propose six criteria to define emergence as a stage through which a genre pass toward standardization. Such a stage denotes, on one hand, a type of recurrence of recognized, accepted and socially practiced standards. On the other hand, this same stage denotes amorphous elements, under its modeling and recognition process by the community: the remix process, finishing, links, rapid saturation, lack of consent over the name and genres proposes.