166 LANGUAGE AND THE INTERNET
computerascomptuer,orascommuter, and does the same. Each
group has its own history, and a group memory exists (often semi-
institutionalized in the FAQs for that group) and is respected. In a
multilingual group, the way others code-switch will be an impor-
tant inde xof identity.^61 Maintaining the identity of the group is the
important thing, especially as there is no other sort of identity to
rely upon, given that personal anonymity is the norm.
The anonymity of the medium is one of its most interesting fea-
tures, in fact, though a discussion of this phenomenon leads us
away from linguistics and into social psychology.^62 Yet it is impor-
tant to note that, when participants are anonymous, the language
of the interaction, as presented on screen, is all other group mem-
bers have to go on. Subconsciously, at least, participants will be
paying special attention to everyone’s choice of words, nuances of
phrasing, and other points of content and presentation. Although
the ideal involvement is one of trust, commentators and partici-
pants alike are well aware – from years of hoaxes, viruses, name
forgeries, and other misbehaviour – that the Internet is a poten-
tially deceptive, dangerous, and fraudulent medium. Who knows
what the intentions are of the latest visitor to a chatroom or the
new role-player in a fantasy game? They may or may not be genuine
new members. Members are very largely dependent on newcomers’
choice of language to determine theirbonafides, and this fact alone
is beginning to prompt a great deal of interest and research. For
example, because it is very difficult to become quickly adept in a
new variety of language, interlopers are likely to stand out. If an
adult chose to visit a teenage chatroom, it would be very difficult
for the visitor to adopt or maintain the assumed teenage identity,
given the many linguistic differences (especially of slang) between
the generations. Similarly, a male in a female chatroom (or vice
versa) – an extremely common occurrence – would also encounter
difficulties in adopting the right persona, given the many points
of difference which sociolinguists have noted between male and
(^61) Paolillo (1999) notes the use of local languages as a marker of in-group identity in regional
or immigrant groups, e.g. the use of Hindi on the #india channel. Werry (1996: 56) found
62 auseofreborrowed from English by his French IRC community, in the sense ‘hello again’.
It is a major theme of Wallace (1999), for example.