A syntactic and pragmatic study of nominal vocatives in the Twitter exchanges of rappers’ fans

This study aims to examine nominal vocatives in Twitter through the analysis of 1500 posts extracted from accounts five well-known female and male rappers. From this total, a sample 550 were analysed. Attention is paid their frequency, class, position, type clause polarity which they occur, pragmatic functions express. The factor gender also investigated. reveals that those posting these make use very large varied repertoire vocatives. group familiarisers clearly prevails over other categories high frequency contrasts situation spontaneous conversations where first names tend be most common. Vocatives final position prevail initial medial position. Besides, containing short while are far longer. Polarity does not seem have strong influence. Some differences, however, observed according with respect gender. As conversation, generally serve strengthen social relationships (creating solidarity, complimenting, expressing appreciation, reinforcing identity) discourse-oriented relating topic turn management so