Horizontalidad discursiva en comunidades de práctica digitales

Abstract

This paper discusses the value of horizontal communication in the digital genres used by communities of practice, as an agent which promotes new participation and interaction modes among ICT users. Virtual networks favour information exchange and personal contact among the citizens who participate in the digital world, without real place and time constraints. This type of interaction allows for mutual feedback, and turns the static role of ICT users, from passive to active ones, in relation to media messages and communication. We seek to show, through the preliminary discourse analysis of a blog, how horizontality promotes interaction among the users in a specific community, allowing them to take active part in the interests, routines, and shared interests of the group, and to be message receivers – and not only recipients.