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

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 23:12 authored by Grace, A, Nenagh KempNenagh Kemp, Martin, FH, Parrila, R
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.

History

Publication title

New Media and Society

Volume

17

Issue

5

Pagination

792-809

ISSN

1461-4448

Department/School

School of Psychological Sciences

Publisher

Sage Publications Ltd

Place of publication

Online

Rights statement

Copyright 2013 Sage

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in psychology

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    University Of Tasmania

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