Texting Language as Destructive or Constructive: Perceptions of Pakistani University Students

Abstract

This study investigates the rising prevalence of texting language and its impact on Standard English among L2 learners. It discusses the emergence of "texting language," "SMS language," or "digital language," characterized by abbreviations, contractions, acronyms, emojis, and other non-standard elements due to technological advancements and widespread mobile and internet use. The primary ojective is to assess whether texting language harms English or represents a natural evolution of the language. The study examines students' capacity to differentiate between informal texting behaviours and formal academic writing, with a focus on 120 university-level EFL learners. This study aims to dispel myths about texting language by taking an optimistic stance. It makes the case that texting is a creative and flexible mode of communication that represents linguistic innovation rather than a danger to English. By offering a fair assessment of the connection between students' writing proficiency and digital communication behaviours, the results are anticipated to have a favourable impact on the fields of education and applied linguistics.

Keywords: Texting Language, SMS Language, Digital Communication, University-Level EFL Learners