CORTESÍA Y MODALIZACIÓN EN UN FORO DE OPINIÓN DE INTERNET1

Abstract

(Taking part in an Internet forum implies that anonymous people argue for or against a certain issue, without fear of censorship. What discourse strategies does the participant use to express his opinion? This article describes this interacction type from the point of view of courtesy and modalization, around the issue posed on Internet Chile-Foros, “Should there be a divorce law in Chile?” The attitude and stance of the participant is shown through a descriptive analysis. This being a public, anonymous dialog allows creating a subject of enunciation, who appeals to an addresee, to express an opinion about the topic and, at the same time, listen to other people’s opinions in order to balance one’s own views before responding to the addresser. A number of courtesy rules that regulate the behaviour of participants are used.)