Intimacy Unbound: Exploring the Role of Improvisation in Online Communication and Its Influence on Address Patterns

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the phenomenon of increased intimacy in online addressing compared to face-to-face communication and its relationship with improvisational language practices. Based on the theory of language evolution in The Language Game and two case studies, this research investigates how improvisation in language use shapes the intimacy of personal addresses in digital environments. Contributing to a deeper understanding of and providing new perspectives on the changing dynamics of human interaction in the digital age, this study highlights the impact of improvisation on online communication and its influence on the formation of intimate connections in virtual spaces. However, this paper has limitations as it lacks consideration of the effects of special designation culture, gender, and age on the phenomenon under study.