Effect Of Text Messaging Abbreviations On The Writing Skills Of Students

Introduction

1.1 Background to the Study.

Nigeria is a multi-lingual Nation and over the years, English language has been adopted as the national official language as well as the medium of instruction at all levels of Education. English language is a second language which functions as the official language in Nigeria. It is a key language used for communication. English language as it is, is not a strange language among the languages of the world. As earlier stated English language is an official language and it is being used by average Nigerians as a means of communication either by speaking or by writing. Writing skill is a critical aspect of English language. As a task, writing can take a considerable time but it’s important that one keep to his or her original plan as much as one can make use of good words in constructing his ideas.
Abbreviations certainly affect one’s instant processing ability and how we process information. It is heavily dependent on experience with the abbreviation. For example, majority of people who frequently use certain abbreviation in one context would instantly process the abbreviation any time they see it, though the meaning that they have been exposed to. However, this same abbreviation for another individual would be processed differently if they have been exposed to it in a different context.

Short message services (S.M.S) is believed to have its own language, Raymond (2003), defined the S.M.S language as a term used for the abbreviations and slang commonly used with mobile phone text messaging, it is also used with other inter-based communication such as E- mail and instant messages. This is widely used among the youths most especially among students for the purpose of chatting and sending information’s to friends and loved ones at a lower cost, though there are certain benefits in abbreviating but there are ways it affects students.

Jeyifo (2008) said that keeping to the plan means keeping to the structure of writing, this is highly important because it keeps the message relevant and useful to the readers. Alao (2007) in his contribution identified three features of early mobile phone messaging, that is reasons for the encouragement in using abbreviations in S.M.S,
One: Text entering is difficult many a times and it requires multiple key presses on a small keypad to generate each letters (this is usually among mobile phone user.)

Two: short message services (S.M.S) gives way for a limited characters (sometimes limited to 160 characters for one S.M.S).

Three: Short message services (S.M.S) made texting faster.

Raymond (2003) says that the history of S.M.S language (Abbreviation) can be linked to that which is used by those sending telegraphs that is charged by the word. It seeks to use the fewest number of letters to produce ultra- concise words and sentiments. In dealing with space time and cost constraints of text and cost constraints of text messaging. This follows from how early S.M.S permitted only 160 characters and some carriers charge messages by the number of characters sent. Nevertheless, the invention of mobile phone messaging is considered to be the source for the invention of abbreviation fully in S.M.S, in S.M.S, abbreviation allows a particular sender to type less and communicate more quickly than one could have done without abbreviating, this is because any word can be reconstructed by bee shortened to meet a particular purpose.

Examples of these words are:

Luv – Love

Nyc – Nice

C – See

Lol – Laugh out loud

Xup – What’s up

Gud – Good

Gr8 – Great

Suxes – Success

U – You

Yr – Year

Hbd – Happy birthday.

Ur- Your

Nite-Night

2da-Today

Gada-Gather

2-To

B-Be

Lyf-Life

Cu-See You

As more as students worldwide acquire and use mobile phones, so also are they immersing themselves in text messaging, such is the situation that some teachers, parents and students themselves are expressing concerns that students’ writing skills stand the risk of being sacrificed on the altar of text messaging.

The phenomenon has brought in its wake three main schools of thought, while some educators and students think that text messaging in one of the banes of mobile telephony because of its possible negative impact on writing skills of students, others contend that it rather enhances their writing skills and therefore, is a blessing. A third group thinks that the argument on the fact that for the sake of brevity, concision and economy, the simple message system (S.M.S) of text messaging throws the essential mechanics of writing such as grammar, syntax, punctuation and capitalization to the wind. The other school of thought, spearheaded by the renowned linguist, David crystal, thinks otherwise, abbreviation in S.M.S does not really pose a threat as many fear it can. The more students writes, the more they improve upon their writing skills, the unbridled use of abbreviations and non- standard expressions and spelling and their possible negative impact on students’ essay writing, though there are conditions and problems which warrants text messaging and its potential effects on students’ essay is sure.

However, despite the popularity of abbreviation in S.M.S and how it is widely agreed among students who are mostly its user, it is more likely to have impact on students’ writing skills or everyday speech. Upon this study investigates the effect of text messaging abbreviations on the writing skills of students of Rivers state university.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

It has been discovered that throughout the education landscape, student’s way of abbreviating in S.M.S has caused a bone of contention among educators, though cell phone has been considered detrimental to English use standard in the educational system, yet teachers, have realized that this have not stopped the day to day chatting lifestyle of the students.

Awoyemi, (2004) said that the way students do abbreviate in their texting is so too much, however, one must realize that this method of abbreviation do not go beyond the social media or on their phone box, it has in no way affected their way of writing. In his own study, data were gathered and the discoveries revealed that abbreviation only build students for another language that is the S.M.S language, this does not affect them in the effective use of English language.

Agboola, (2009) in his own study discovered that the S.M.S language is an avenue for learning the S.M.S language, however, when students are addicted to the language it influences them in the English language, but this only affect careless students, they usually miss up the S.M.S language with the real language, when writing their Essays.

This study do not agree with Awoyemi, (2004) and partially agree with Agboola,(2009), in that the study sees the S.M.S language as one that has great impact on the students’ normal use of English Language, most especially while writing text messages. This study believes that since the place of text message writing cannot be maneuvered, if care is not taken, the use of abbreviation might influence students in constructing good essays, this study is carried out to investigate the effect of text messaging abbreviations on the writing skills of students of Rivers state university.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The overall purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of text messaging abbreviations on the writing skills of students of Rivers state university. Beside this, the following secondary objectives are also considered:

To establish students’ addiction to SMS abbreviation.

To establish the extent to which SMS abbreviation impact on students’ writing skills.

To suggest ways to reduce the level of SMS abbreviation usage among students.

1.4 Research Questions

Under this study, some questions are being formulated to guide the researcher in the cause of investigations, the questions are:

Are there purposes behind student’s abbreviation in S.M.S?

Do students have deep knowledge of how abbreviation in S.M.S affects their writing skills?

What are the impacts of SMS abbreviations on students’ writing skills?

How can educators control students who abbreviate during academic writing?

1.5 Significance of the Study

The study will be significant in various ways to the teachers, students, as well as the education sector as a whole.

The Teachers: This study will be significant to educators, the English teachers in particular, it will help them to control the high rate of the use of abbreviation in S.M.S and in other aspect of writing.

The Students: The study will orient them on the use of abbreviations, and how to guide against its use while writing their essays.

Finally, the study will be significant to Nigeria’s education sector as a whole because it will promote the standard of education, it will also serve as a resource material for other future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

This study seeks to know the effect of text messaging abbreviations on the writing skills of students of Rivers state university. The respondents for this study will be obtained from Rivers state university.

1.7 Limitation of the Study

Like in every human endeavour, the researcher encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size. More so, the researcher simultaneously engaged in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

Moreover, the case study method utilized in the study posed some challenges to the investigator including the possibility of biases and poor judgment of issues. However, the investigator relied on respect for the general principles of procedures, justice, fairness, objectivity in observation and recording, and weighing of evidence to overcome the challenges.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Text Message:

Is an electronic communication sent and received by students typing words through mobile phone which often could be in shortened form.

Abbreviation:

This is the most widely used term for a shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase used predominantly in writing to represent the complete form especially when taking examinations by secondary school students.