Undergraduates’ attitudes to text messaging language use and intrusions of textisms into formal writing

Abstract

Students’ increasing use of text messaging language has prompted concern that textisms (e.g., 2 for to, dont for don’t, ☺) will intrude into their formal written work. Eighty-six Australian and 150 Canadian undergraduates were asked to rate the appropriateness of textism use in various situations. Students distinguished between the appropriateness of using textisms in different writing modalities and to different recipients, rating textism use as inappropriate in formal exams and assignments, but appropriate in text messages, online chat and emails with friends and siblings. In a second study, we checked the examination papers of a separate sample of 153 Australian undergraduates for the presence of textisms. Only a negligible number were found. We conclude that, overall, university students recognise the different requirements of different recipients and modalities when considering textism use and that students are able to avoid textism use in exams despite media reports to the contrary.

University students vary their use of textese in digital messages to suit the recipient

“…These results converge with those of previous researchers who have found that undergraduates consider it less appropriate to use textisms when writing to instructors than to friends (Drouin & Davis, 2009) and in more formal than less formal writing and messaging contexts (Grace et al, 2013). Our results are also in line with those of Lewandowski and Harrington (2006), who found that undergraduates formed more negative views of other students who used textisms when writing to professors than those who wrote in standard English.…”

The influence of social distance on speech behavior: Formality variation in casual speech

“…Several studies (Drouin and Davis 2009;Grace et al 2015) showed that the use of textisms (including smileys, LOL, haha etc.) is mainly reserved for causal text messages and considered to be inappropriate in formal writing.…”

The Self-Reported Influence of Using SMS Language in Texting and Social Media on Saudi Students' Academic Writing

“…This type of informal written communication is referred to as SMS language or textese (Aziz et al 2013;Grace et al 2015).…”

“…The reason for that evolution matters as much as reliance on abbreviations is that a number of scholars have argued that the growing prevalence of SMS language may impact how people (and students in particular) use and understand standard English, especially in formal written settings like academic assignments (Verheijen 2013; Grace et al 2015). However, scholars and popular commentators are divided on the specifics of this hypothetical effect, including basic points such as whether it is likely to be positive or negative.…”

“…A number of studies have shown that while SMS language is faster to write, it typically takes longer to decipher and interpret than the more expanded standard form (Levy 2008;Grace et al 2015).…”