Social Distance as a Determiner of Business Internet Communication Variability in Email Correspondence

Abstract

Social distance determines the variability of digital business communication. This research tested business email messages using a complex methodology related to the theoretical description, analysis, and systematization of linguistic material. The specifics of business Internet communication manifested themselves as the choice of certain language formulae, spelling, structural elements (greeting, signature, etc.), graphic means, abbreviations, etc. The social distance between colleagues proved to be one of the leading factors that affected the variability of Internet communication.