Unveiling romance in categories: exploring compatibility in Tinder conversations

Abstract This article uses membership categorization analysis to investigate the discursive practices of unacquainted, matched Tinder users in chat conversations, in the process of developing a potential romantic relationship. Drawing on data from 157 Spanish Tinder conversations, we examine the identification work performed by the matched Tinder users to get acquainted and explore their compatibility. The analysis shows that in order to identify their matches and explore their compatibility, the Tinder users ask questions that invite their recipients to categorize themselves with respect to various membership categorization devices or categories, and the responses reveal the specific categories from these devices with which the recipients identify. Co-membership in the invoked categories is typically positively received by both parties and is understood to signal compatibility. Progress in the process of exploration is conducive to relational intimacy and is also understood to signal progress in the development of a potential romantic relationship. We conclude by observing that relationships are ongoing everyday accomplishments formed on the basis of much categorization work. The data are in Spanish and Italian with English translations.