âIâd Say Itâs a Smart English Accentâ: A Case Study of Language Attitudes on Reddit

Sven Leuckert

Chapter 3 âIâd Say Itâs a Smart English Accentâ: A Case Study of Language Attitudes on Reddit

In: English Language Contacts and Change in the Digital Age

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Sven Leuckert

Sven Leuckert TUD Dresden University of Technology

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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 84â113

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004757837_005

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Abstract

In this chapter, I explore the potential of the social media platform Reddit for World Englishes research with a case study of attitudes towards Englishes expressed by members of the subreddits r/indianews and r/IndiaSpeaks. The study employs qualitative and quantitative as well as corpus-based and corpus-driven methods to investigate how users on the two subreddits discuss Indian English and other varieties of English. The findings from emotion analysis, topic modelling, and adjective-noun bigram inspection reveal a complex picture, with some users expressing negative/overtly prescriptive attitudes towards English(es) while othersâ attitudes are positive. This mixed picture has potential implications for how English in India may develop further in the future. Methodologically, the chapter illustrates that Reddit is a powerful yet complex resource for the study of World Englishes: while the platform provides access to relatively naturalistic written language and is a space of constant language contact, there are also methodological limitations and caveats when using Reddit data for World Englishes.

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English Language Contacts and Change in the Digital Age

Series:Â Language and Computers, Volume: 87

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004757837

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 28 Apr 2026

Subjects
- Languages and Linguistics

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PartÂ 1 Contact in Digital Communication

Part 2 Change through Digital Media

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Chapter 3 âIâd Say Itâs a Smart English Accentâ: A Case Study of Language Attitudes on Reddit

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English Language Contacts and Change in the Digital Age

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Chapter 3 âIâd Say Itâs a Smart English Accentâ: A Case Study of Language Attitudes on Reddit