Paper Summary
Source: Utrecht University (0 citations)
Authors: Yente van der Aa
Published Date: 2021-07-01
Podcast Transcript
Hello, and welcome to paper-to-podcast, the show where we take academic papers and turn them into something you can actually listen to while doing the dishes or pretending to work. Today, we're diving into the world of Twitch, Teamfight Tactics, and how a bunch of cryptic language and emotes can tell you everything you need to know about gamer identity. Yes, because who needs Rosetta Stone when you’ve got Twitch chat?
This study, hailing from Utrecht University and conducted by Yente van der Aa, is titled “It’s a first!”: A Case Study on Identity Expression through Language on Twitch in a Game of Teamfight Tactics. Now, before you ask, no, Teamfight Tactics is not a guide on how to win arguments with your siblings over who gets the last slice of pizza. It's a strategic game played on Twitch, a platform where gamers go to watch other gamers play games because playing games yourself is so last season.
The study finds that on Twitch, understanding the language is like being in a secret club where everyone knows the handshake, but in this case, the handshake is an emote of a dancing penguin. Language here is not just about communicating but also about showing you belong. You know, it's like when you're at a party and everyone’s talking about that one time they all went bungee jumping, and you just nod along because you once saw a bungee jumping video on YouTube.
So, how does this work on Twitch? Well, gamers use a slew of specific jargon, abbreviations, and emotes. Let’s break it down. When gamers talk about placement references like "1st" or "8th", they’re not ranking their favorite pizza toppings but referring to where they placed in the game. Abbreviations like "GA" for "Guardian Angel" are tossed around, and if you think that sounds like a heartfelt Hallmark card, you're not wrong, but in this case, it's a game item. And then there are emotes — those delightful little images that can express everything from joy to "why is this happening to me" — like the "shadowMortdog" emote, which is used to humorously express bad luck, or just when life gives you lemons, and instead of lemonade, you get a lemon pie to the face.
Interestingly, even if you're not actively playing Teamfight Tactics, you can still be part of the community. Simply knowing the language and customs makes you one of the cool kids. It’s like being a sports fan who doesn’t play but knows all the stats and the lyrics to every team chant. You’re in the club, and you didn’t even have to buy a jersey.
The research methodology is pretty fascinating too. Yente van der Aa, and possibly their colleagues, conducted an ethnographic case study, which is a fancy way of saying they watched a lot of Twitch. They focused on the chat interactions during streams and even used videos on demand from Twitch over two months. Imagine explaining to your boss that you need two months to watch Twitch for science.
But, as with any study, there are some limitations. The research focused on a single Twitch streamer, k3soju, which might make the findings as narrow as the Wi-Fi signal in my basement. This means the linguistic quirks observed might not apply to the whole wide world of Twitch or gaming communities. Also, the study may have missed those on-the-fly interactions that occur during live streams—kind of like when you miss the bus and then see it zoom past when you’re halfway up the block.
Now, what can we do with all this information? Well, community managers and social media strategists could use it to create more engaging and inclusive online spaces. Game developers might integrate linguistic elements from the study to make games that resonate better with players. Educators could use these insights to teach about digital communication’s impact on identity and language. And if you’re a marketer, understanding this language could help you craft messages that make gamers actually want to buy your products, instead of just using your ad as a bathroom break.
So, next time you’re on Twitch, remember: it’s not just about the game; it’s about the language, the emotes, and the community. And who knows, maybe you’ll even learn what "GA" stands for without having to look it up like I did.
You can find this paper and more on the paper2podcast.com website.
Supporting Analysis
The study explores how language on Twitch, particularly in the context of the game Teamfight Tactics (TFT), helps express gamer identity and community belonging. Interestingly, it finds that understanding and using specific gamer jargon, abbreviations, and emotes are crucial for participants to express their identity and integrate into the community. For instance, gamers use placement references like "1st" or "8th" to express outcomes, and abbreviations like "GA" for "Guardian Angel" to demonstrate in-group knowledge. Emotes also play a significant role; for example, the "shadowMortdog" emote, depicting a game designer, is used humorously to signify bad luck. These linguistic elements create an exclusive community language that distinguishes in-group members from outsiders. Surprisingly, the research highlights that even those who do not actively play the game can be part of the community, as long as they are familiar with these communication practices. This illustrates a unique aspect of Twitch communities where spectating can substitute for active participation in a video game, thereby broadening the scope of what it means to belong to a gaming community.
The research employs an ethnographic case study approach to analyze how gamer-specific language is used to express identity on Twitch during streams of the game Teamfight Tactics (TFT). The study focuses on the chat interactions in the streamer's channel, examining how language contributes to forming a community of practice (CoP). Data is collected through transcripts of chat messages from the streamer's Videos on Demand (VoD) on Twitch over a two-month period. The analysis is divided into three categories: placement references, abbreviations, and emotes. Placement references involve phrases related to game outcomes. Abbreviations are explored as a form of gamer-specific language that denotes in-game items or strategies. Emotes, especially those unique to Twitch or Better Twitch TV extensions, are analyzed for their role in expressing emotions and ideas. The researcher draws on their own in-group knowledge, having been a member of the community, to interpret the data. This qualitative analysis provides insights into the linguistic practices that define membership and identity within the TFT Twitch community.
The research delves into the intricate world of gamer language and identity, focusing on a specific community on Twitch. The compelling aspect lies in its ethnographic approach, which provides an in-depth, qualitative analysis of how language, including gamer-specific lexicon, abbreviations, and emotes, contributes to identity expression within an online gaming community. The researchers adeptly use the "Community of Practice" theory to contextualize their study, exploring how shared language practices create a sense of belonging and identity among community members. A best practice followed by the researchers is the comprehensive data collection process, which spans over two months and utilizes transcripts from recorded videos on Twitch. This allows for a rich dataset that captures the dynamic and interactive nature of the platform. Additionally, the researchers employ a clear methodology by categorizing chat language into distinct themes, which aids in the structured analysis of the data. By using their own in-group knowledge for observations, they ensure that the analysis is grounded in an authentic understanding of the community’s linguistic nuances. This approach supports a nuanced exploration of the interplay between language, identity, and community in digital spaces.
One possible limitation of the research is its reliance on a single Twitch streamer, k3soju, as the focal point for data collection. This focus may limit the generalizability of the findings, as the linguistic practices observed could be specific to this particular community and not representative of the broader Twitch or gaming community. Additionally, the study's reliance on chat transcripts from recorded broadcasts might miss out on real-time interactions and nuances that occur during live streams. The ethnographic nature of the study also introduces potential bias, as the observer was already an in-group member of the community for at least six months, which might affect objectivity. The study focuses on gamer-specific language and identity, potentially overlooking other factors like cultural or regional influences that could affect language use. Moreover, the research heavily depends on subjective interpretations of in-group language and emotes, which could lead to different conclusions if interpreted by another researcher. Finally, the study doesn't account for non-verbal cues or interactions, which could play a significant role in identity expression and community dynamics on a visually-driven platform like Twitch.
The research has several intriguing potential applications. Firstly, it offers insights into online community dynamics, especially within gaming platforms like Twitch. This understanding could be valuable for community managers and social media strategists aiming to foster engagement and inclusivity in online spaces. By identifying and analyzing gamer-specific language and phrases, the study could help in developing better moderation tools to encourage positive interactions and reduce toxic behavior in gaming communities. Additionally, the research can inform the design of more immersive gaming experiences by integrating linguistic elements that resonate with community members. Game developers could use these insights to create content that aligns with the cultural and social dynamics of their target audiences. In education, the findings could be applied to language and identity studies, demonstrating how digital environments influence identity formation and social belonging. This could be useful for educators and researchers exploring the impact of digital communication on language evolution. Finally, marketers targeting gaming communities could leverage this research to craft messages that align with the linguistic norms and values of these groups, potentially increasing brand affinity and loyalty among gamers.