Self-nominations of German-speaking adolescent boys in Internet communication (on the example of nicknames): A psycholinguistic aspect. Article 2

The article presents the psycholinguistic features of the self-nomination process in Internet communication among German-speaking adolescent boys aged between 11 and 17. The result of a self-nomination act is recognized as a virtual anthropo-nym - a nickname. The aim of the study is to identify and evaluate the manifestation of such extralinguistic factors as gender and age in the nicknames of German-speaking adolescent boys in Internet communications, as well as to determine the specifics of the self-nomination process from the subjective author’s point of view. The research material was based on the results of three surveys of 239 informants. Questionnaires and interviews were conducted from 2019 to 2022 in Hannover, Germany, and online. The analyzed data includes both the nicknames themselves and user responses. The following questions were asked: What nickname do you most often use on the Internet?; What Internet service do you use this nickname on?; What does your nickname mean?; How did you create the nickname? Describe the history of your nickname; Why did you call yourself that nickname with?; How do you evaluate your nickname? What is it like?; What do you think other users can understand about you based on your nickname, without knowing you personally?; How long have you had this nickname?; Have you thought about changing your nickname? If yes, for which one?. The results show that the preferred functional environment for nicknames is communication-oriented Internet services. Thinking through and purposefully creating self-nominations is the most typical scenario for the emergence of nicknames. The motives for self-nomination are diverse, among them the following prevail: individualization/self-expression; improvement of the real image; satisfaction/pride in real autonym; overcoming technical limitations of the service; showing originality/attracting attention. Most informants are satisfied with their nicknames, evaluating them positively or neutrally, and do not intend to change nicknames. The main intention of self-nominations is information deliv-ery/transmission. The formal stability of nicknames over time was also revealed. The study confirms that the gender and age characteristics of Internet users are intentionally or unconsciously projected onto a virtual persona at the stage of choosing a nickname. Among the age-related characteristics of adolescence, reflected in the self-nominations of boys, the following were found: formation of the self-concept; need for individualization; positive or inflated self-esteem with an emphasis on masculine qualities; improvement of cognitive functions, maturation of the intellectual apparatus and critical thinking; need for recognition by a certain social group, especially in the field of gaming activity; tendency towards verbal aggression. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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