Abstract

Short Message Service (SMS) language can be classified in itself as a variety of written language. The classification of SMS as a distinct variety is based on the uniqueness of the way it is written, since this variety is based only on written form and not speech. This article examines the Word Formation Processes that are used in SMS language by the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students of University of Management and Technology (UMT), Pakistan. The article also explores the choices of Word Formation Processes (WFPs) that are made by males and females. The data was collected from 50 male and 50 female students enrolled in the BBA program of a private university of Lahore. The research questions were related to the use of Word Formation Processes and the research hypotheses were tested to distinguish WFPs as a marker of Gender identity. The results revealed that Standard Word Formation Processes are used more in the SMS language as compared to non-standard WFPs and it also revealed that there is a significant difference in the choices of males and females.

Highlights

  • The use of mobile phones is rapidly increasing in Pakistan

  • The results revealed that Standard Word Formation Processes are used more in the Short Message Service (SMS) language as compared to non-standard WFPs and it revealed that there is a significant difference in the choices of males and females

  • The analysis of Word formation Processes in SMS language indicates that the WFPs can mark gender boundaries

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Summary

Introduction

The use of mobile phones is rapidly increasing in Pakistan. According to the sources in ecommerce market, at the end of December 2016 the number of mobile phone users in Pakistan will have risen to 40 million. Short Message Services (SMS) is a type of instant messaging system through which the user can send a message of up to 160 characters to any mobile phone (Leung 2007; Phau & Teah 2009). According to Forbes (2006), the use of SMS service is up to 65% on daily basis. The average SMS that Pakistanis sent were over 151 billion text messages during the year 2009 to Nokia Pakistan is the 3rd highest country that produces SMS traffic. Mobile phone users try to write their messages in minimal words in order to save their time and money (Bodomo 2009; Balakrishnan & Yeow 2008; Segerstad 2005). Bodomo says about SMS language, “words, phrases and sentences should be coded with as few symbols as possible without giving up comprehensibility” (Bodomo 2009, 113)

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