Bronies Learning English in the Digital Wild

Autor/inn/en	Shafirova, Liudmila; Cassany, Daniel
Titel	Bronies Learning English in the Digital Wild
Quelle	In: Language Learning & Technology, 23 (2019) 1, S.127-144 (18 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1094-3501
Schlagwörter	English (Second Language); Second Language Learning; Second Language Instruction; Cartoons; Animation; Adults; Males; Multilingualism; Ethnography; Fiction; Translation; Self Concept; Audiences; Communities of Practice; Computer Mediated Communication; Language Skills; Independent Study; Mentors; Language Proficiency; Cultural Awareness; Foreign Countries; Russia; Spain + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Fremdsprachenunterricht; Zeichentrickfilm; Male; Männliches Geschlecht; Mehrsprachigkeit; Multilingualismus; Ethnografie; Fiktion; Selbstkonzept; Spectator; Zuschauer; Community; Computerkonferenz; Language skill; Sprachkompetenz; Selbststudium; Language skills; Cultural identity; Kulturelle Identität; Ausland; Russland; Spanien
Abstract	This article reports on fan practices, in English, among an international community of bronies--adult fans of the animated cartoon "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" (MLP). Originally directed at a target audience of young girls, MLP has become popular among men. These older male fans have been extremely active in producing multimodal and plurilingual fan practices. We explore how two different groups of bronies--one in Russia and the other in Spain--carry out fan practices in English. Applying digital ethnography, we describe six different cases of adult MLP fans. They both consume and create products such as fanfiction, translations, and fandubbing in different contexts with the use of sophisticated technologies. Not only do fandom practices allow these fans to develop digital identities and reach new audiences, they also help them to improve their English language skills--a task at which they reveal themselves to be both autonomous and self-critical. Regarding translation practices, we note several instances of bronies receiving mentoring from fellow fans who have a higher level of English. Finally, this article points out how, in the process of adapting their written output for global readerships, bronies can acquire some important transcultural skills. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	University of Hawaii National Foreign Language Resource Center. 1859 East-West Road #106, Honolulu, HI 96822. Tel: 808-956-9424; Fax: 808-956-5983; e-mail: llt@hawaii.edu; Web site: http://llt.msu.edu
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01