Internet language as a mediolect in the light of Hungarian and international sociolinguistic literature
English
journal number:
Journal’s Subject Headings:
History of science
About author:
B. Istók J. Selye University, Komárno, Slovakia, istokv@ujs.sk
G. Lőrincz J. Selye University, Komárno, Slovakia, lorinczg@ujs.sk
Sz. T. Tóth University of Tartu Narva, Estonia, szilard.toth@ut.ee
P. Baka L. J. Selye University, Komárno, Slovakia, bakap@ujs.sk
G. Lőrincz J. Selye University, Komárno, Slovakia, lorinczg@ujs.sk
Sz. T. Tóth University of Tartu Narva, Estonia, szilard.toth@ut.ee
P. Baka L. J. Selye University, Komárno, Slovakia, bakap@ujs.sk
ABSTRACT
Introduction: the study places the internet language within the typology of language varieties, synthesizing and further developing the sometimes mutually contradictory views of Hungarian and international sociolinguistics and internet linguistics. Using a theoretical-analytical
method (comparative analysis of conceptual models known from sociolinguistics), the study demonstrates that the internet language as a language variant can be classified as a mediolect among written language registers.
Objective: to resolve a paradox that has existed in internet linguistics for decades. It seeks to answer the question: What (what kind of lect) is being examined when we examine internet language?
Research materials: the paper builds on the results of an earlier study of authors: it accepts the existence of internet language in order to attempt to define its nature. In an effort to overcome this paradox of internet linguistics, it takes as its basis models of language variation and concepts of internet linguistics drawn from Hungarian, German and English literature and develops them further.
Results and novelty of the research: the main result of the research is that internet language has been successfully placed within the system of language varieties: it has been established that internet language can be classified as a mediolect among written language registers.
The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that the placement of internet language within the system of language varieties was achieved by synthesizing conflicting approaches of the internet linguistics.
Key words: sociolinguistics, internet language, language varieties, register, mediolect
For citation: Istók B., Lőrincz G., Tóth Sz. T., Baka L. P. Internet language as a mediolect in the light of Hungarian and international sociolinguistic literature // Vestnik ugrovedenia = Bulletin of Ugric Studies. 2026; 16 (1/64): 178–185.
Introduction: the study places the internet language within the typology of language varieties, synthesizing and further developing the sometimes mutually contradictory views of Hungarian and international sociolinguistics and internet linguistics. Using a theoretical-analytical
method (comparative analysis of conceptual models known from sociolinguistics), the study demonstrates that the internet language as a language variant can be classified as a mediolect among written language registers.
Objective: to resolve a paradox that has existed in internet linguistics for decades. It seeks to answer the question: What (what kind of lect) is being examined when we examine internet language?
Research materials: the paper builds on the results of an earlier study of authors: it accepts the existence of internet language in order to attempt to define its nature. In an effort to overcome this paradox of internet linguistics, it takes as its basis models of language variation and concepts of internet linguistics drawn from Hungarian, German and English literature and develops them further.
Results and novelty of the research: the main result of the research is that internet language has been successfully placed within the system of language varieties: it has been established that internet language can be classified as a mediolect among written language registers.
The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that the placement of internet language within the system of language varieties was achieved by synthesizing conflicting approaches of the internet linguistics.
Key words: sociolinguistics, internet language, language varieties, register, mediolect
For citation: Istók B., Lőrincz G., Tóth Sz. T., Baka L. P. Internet language as a mediolect in the light of Hungarian and international sociolinguistic literature // Vestnik ugrovedenia = Bulletin of Ugric Studies. 2026; 16 (1/64): 178–185.
