To follow is a list of features that are commonly found in text language.
These are particular to this form of communication. They will assist you in the up-coming tasks where you begin to discriminate between language that is spoken and language that is written.
- Emoticons – graphic symbols representing emotions
- Acronyms – use of words’ initial letters to form a single new word e.g. AIDS
- Initialisms – initial letters spelled out e.g. OMG
- Contractions – omitted letters, e.g. txt
- Logograms – single letters or numbers replacing sections of words e.g. 2day for today or u for you
- Ellipsis – omitted parts of a sentence e.g. coming?
- Unusual spelling – e.g. wiv for with (often reflecting an accent)
- Merged words – e.g. seeya
- Repeated letters for emphasis e.g. helllllo
- Upper case or lower case to donate tone e.g. NO WAY
- Punctuation omitted or added for effect e.g. dont be late!!!
- Speech like interjections e.g. ha ha
Remember – it’s not knowing the terms, but understanding the functioning of the language that is important. The terms may assist you in clarifying your understanding and expressing your knowledge of specific language features better. It is always a fatal mistake to use random language terms when you don’t really understand what they mean, or how they add to the speech you are evaluating.
