LINGO ONLINE: A STUDY BY MSN.CA AND DR. NEIL RANDALL

KEY FINDINGS

A new language has evolved online:

• Combines writing and speaking in unique and unprecedented ways.
• Does not abandon the purposes or values of traditional writing or speech.
• Results from the need for onliners to exchange thoughts and emotions quickly.
• Tries to capture the essence of language by allowing users to speak with their fingers.

Emoticons bring people closer to the spoken word:

• Simulate speech by providing physical expressions (mostly facial – winks, smiles, frowns) that would be apparent in a spoken conversation.
• Attempt to fill an important gap in person-to-person communication online.
• Are used by over 60% of emoticon users to perform the difficult written act of expressing feelings.
• Convey individuality, according to 40% of survey respondents.
• Allow onliners to demonstrate their mood or tone of voice, indicate humour, or to avoid misunderstanding and miscommunication.

Acronyms and abbreviations save time and express creativity:

• Allow greater speed and let users demonstrate their belonging to a community.

• Demonstrate creativity, according to 72% of surveyed respondents.
• Primarily appear in youth discourse online. 86% of survey respondents younger than 20 knew what LOL (laughing out loud) meant, as opposed to 60% of the 20-34 age group and only 28% of respondents 35 or older.
• 55% of onliners create their own short forms and abbreviations at least occasionally when instant messaging.

Different types of language are appropriate in different situations:

• Correctness in language is defined by the situation, not by formal language that follows prescribed rules of vocabulary, diction, grammar, syntax and punctuation.

• Onliners are adept at recognizing the communication needs of the specific situations and tailoring their use of language accordingly.
• 63% of onliners check their instant messages for spelling at least occasionally.
• 76% of onliners check their email messages for spelling at least occasionally.
• 90% of onliners use emoticons while emailing with friends, but only 18% use them in messages they deem more serious, such as those to business associates or teachers.