| dc.description.abstract | The main purpose of this study was to investigate how the language used in the writing of the mobile phone text messages differs from the conventional writing and how the readers of the text messages are able to interpret the messages they receive. The objectives of the study were to describe the linguistic properties of coded messages in cell phones, to investigate the rules of grammar which are retained to ensure a successful communication process in text messaging, and to establish whether Relevance theory can be used in the analysis of text messages.
The study revealed that Relevance theory adequately accounts for the successful interpretation of cell phone text messages. The results also revealed that people involved in the communication process in text messaging rely on context for the interpretation of the messages. Chapter one gives a summary of the general framework of the study. It displays the background to the study, states and defines the problem the proposal addresses, states the aims, objectives and hypotheses of the study and the theoretical and methodological framework for the research.
Chapter two contains a description of the linguistic properties of cell phone text messages. The chapter established that the text messaging language has some of the natural language characteristics. It is a symbol system, which is linearly arranged, it is a social fact and has the different linguistic levels, that is, phonological, lexical, syntactic and semantic. It also communicates ideas, beliefs and feelings.
In chapter two, it also emerged that text messagmg language uses abbreviations, contractions and acronyms. It is phonetically written, lacks proper sentence structure, has a personal element, is unconstrained, allows for code-switching and uses emotions. In a nut-shell, the language has characteristics belonging to both sides of speech and writing divide.
Chapter three displays the data collected from a primary source. The data presented revealed that the writers of the cell phone text messages use mainly code-mixing style, and rarely use Standard English except when they communicate to adults. Chapter four presents data analysis, research findings and discussion. The analysis of the data revealed that the people involved in the communication process rely on context in their interpretation of cell phone text messages. Chapter five gives the summary, conclusions and recommendations of the study. | en_US |
