| Abstract [eng] |
This study analyzes how the expression of loss on the social network “Facebook” reveals the interplay between language, emotion, and publicity in virtual communication. The aim of the research was to define the concept of boundaries in virtual public space at a theoretical level and to empirically examine the fluidity and negotiation of these boundaries in public farewell posts. The study also explored respondents’ perceptions and attitudes toward this form of communication. Based on the analysis and the results of a sociolinguistic survey, it became evident that the sentiments expressed in farewell posts on “Facebook” are often intended to maintain a symbolic connection with the deceased, yet these messages simultaneously become visible to a wider audience than originally intended. The findings indicate a merging of public and private discourse in virtual space, where expressions of loss take on a multilayered character shaped by individual attitudes, age, and users’ relationship with social media. While the boundary between public and private is often clearly recognized at the attitudinal level, the abundance of publicly shared posts about loss suggests a certain societal ambivalence. This study highlights the evolving nature of contemporary communication and may be useful in analyzing not only shifts in communicative practice but also changes in how the notion of publicness is reflected in language within virtual contexts. |
