Keywords
Community of Practice, Cultural Models, Philippine Online Networking, Language and Identity.
Abstract
The English language, traditionally viewed as monolithic and monocentric, now evolves into diverse varieties embedded in unique communities of practice. The expansion of online communication has further informed this evolution, giving rise to virtual spaces where members negotiate shared meanings, identities, and linguistic norms. This paper explores language use within an online networking business community of practice in the Philippines. Drawing on theories of Communities of Practice (COP) and Cultural Models, it examines how English is positioned in relation to the members’ cultural models and how community-specific jargons function as markers of identities. Through in-depth interviews and analysis of actual online conversations and social media posts, the study reveals that group members use English and local languages in dynamic linguistic strategies, such as code-switching and translingual practices, to construct and perform their identities within the group. The findings further reveal the role of English as a tool for empowerment and a marker of identity in digital spaces, hence emphasizing the need for a more inclusive understanding of language use in contemporary online communities.
