Language and Online Communities. Analysis of Forum Interactions of Two Online Modules at the University Roma Tre

The main purpose of this contribution is to analyse the role of language within online learning communities. As Wenger (1998, p. 52) states, there is a community of learners where a group of people share the same interests, and according to those common interests, engage in shared actions. The function of language is fundamental within the process of “negotiation of meaning” that happens within the community. If language, and situated use of language, in particular, is important in any community, it becomes essential in an online learning community, both to create a common repertoire and to produce knowledge.
The problem to be investigated here is, therefore, to identify which are the special features of online language of communication, within online communities of learners. To this aim, forum interactions carried out at two online modules, supporting the face-to-face one of Experimental Pedagogy and Museum Education - course of Primary Education – University Roma Tre, will be analysed, taking into consideration typical aspects of asynchronous communication (Crystal, 2001).