Abstract
A transition from text-based computer-mediated communication (CMC) to online interaction that includes both textual and nonverbal discourse represents a new development in online communication and a significant challenge to prevailing models for the analysis of CMC. This paper presents results of a six-month-long ethnographic research of nonverbal communication (NVC) in the Second Life (SL) virtual environment. A set of 108 SL locations selected in a non-structured manner provided a wide range of communicative contexts for the analysis of natu- rally occurring user interaction. The study was focused on the analysis of proxe- mic and kinesic cues. The results have pointed to a significant difference between user-defined and predefined nonverbal cues, indicating that user-defined NVC has stronger potential to enhance online interaction.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Information, Communication & Society |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Pages (from-to) | 221-238 |
| ISSN | 1369-118X |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |