Pragmatics of Text Messaging in a Mixed-Cultural Class of Students

Seminar paper from the year 2020 in the subject Didactics for the subject English - Pedagogy, Literature Studies, University of Bremen, language: English, abstract: This term paper advances research on the pragmatic context of online communication performed by a group of students in a mixed-cultural class. It intended to analyze texting on WhatsApp in terms of linguistic and paralinguistic characteristics, the identity of interlocutors, and uses of abbreviations, emojis, and other non-standard forms.

The data for the research were collected from a questionnaire. Results showed features of online texting which are deviant of the formal language. This supports previous claims that text messaging uses language varieties with unique linguistic features and syntactic conventions. These features are equally in use among students with different cultural background. It was also found that emojis were used to complement words and impose additional meaning. Additionally, the way interlocutors used text messages reveals information about their identities. It also gives clues about their cultural backgrounds.