Comparing the interpretation of text message punctuation by native and non-native English speakers

[摘要] The growing popularity of text messaging as a method for communicating in personal and professional settings raises questions about the ways different language groups perceive and produce various features of text messages. This project employs a mixed-methods design to investigate the ways native English speakers and L2 English learners perceive punctuation in text messages. The data set includes responses from a survey, which led participants to rate and describe a series of text messages, and from follow-up interviews, which allowed participants to explain their survey responses further. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data indicate that, broadly speaking, native speakers and L2 learners vary in their perception of punctuation in text messages, and this variation can lead to miscommunication between texters of the two groups. These findings have valuable implications, in terms of pragmatics and second language pedagogy.

[效力级别] ESL

[关键词] texting;ESL;text messaging;punctuation;linguistics