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History of Social Media:

The evolution of social media has been fueled by the human impulse to communicate and by advances in digital technology. Establishing and nurturing personal connections at scale and at a distance.

From the world’s first electronic message by Samuel Morse who wrote “What hath God brought?” to today's “OMG” and “LOL”. Communication has come a long way.

Social Media Language:

A type of unique writing style which is established on numerous social media platforms, consisting of informal tones, uses of slangs and many words or phrases being abbreviated or shortened.

Social media language has become a reflection of the current generation’s identity. A way to express their thoughts, emotions and opinions.

As social media continues to play a crucial role in our life, it is apparent that its influence is likely to grow, affecting how we communicate with each other both online and offline.

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The Evolution of Social Media: How Did It Begin, and Where Could It Go Next?

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Social media has evolved from a platform for virtual community to a vital business tool. Explore the ways marketers use social media to reach consumers.

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Einar Haugen’s theories

Schizoglossia

An anxiety people have now when thinking about what type of language should be used in a particular type of situation.

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39. SCHIZOGLOSSIA AND THE LINGUISTIC NORM

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39. SCHIZOGLOSSIA AND THE LINGUISTIC NORM was published in Studies by Einar Haugen on page 441.

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Michael Halliday Functional Theory:

The language used by people is determined by the needs of the user.

"Outdated" words would be used less such as in technology.

As technology develops quick, words in this field are more often to be replaced when compared with other fields.

Examples: words such as "cassettes", even though most people would know what it is, this word may not be used in conversation much due to people today not using that technology much in general.

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The following extract is taken from PETAA bookTeaching with Intent: Scaffolding Academic Language with Marginalised Students, written by Dr Bronwyn Parkin and Dr Helen Harper.

You might think that language is just a way of naming the thoughts that go on in our head. Halliday's theory of language argues that language doesn't just mimic meaning, it creates meaning.

Imagine a number of families standing together looking at Venus, the evening star. Listen to what they're saying. One mother with a young child is reciting, 'Starlight, star bright, first star I've seen tonight. Wish I may, wish I might have the wish I wish tonight.' A Yolngu Elder from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory is there. She tells her children the story of Barnambirr, a creator-spirit who is now the star Venus, and how she led the first humans to Australia. The astronomer is explaining to her children, 'Well, that's not actually a star. It's the planet Venus, part of our solar system, like the Earth, and the second planet from the sun. It rotates in the opposite direction to most planets'.

The point here is that all those children are looking at the same object in the sky; yet for each of them, experience is being construed in different ways. They are being guided by their parents towards distinctly different perceptions, and will each take away different meaning from that same physical context. Each text spoken by a parent is a cultural artefact. The chosen texts, and the language within those texts, is the way they share their world view, their motivations, their values and social goals.

Halliday's systemic functional linguistics understands texts as pieces of communication constructed for social purposes. When we listen to, read or view a text, and when we speak, write or create a text, we are drawing on three systems of culturally constructed meaning from which we simultaneously make our choices. The first is the topic, what the social group regards as important to talk and write about (called the field); the second is the interpersonal, the words we choose that position us as authoritative or kind or fearful, and that position the audience as colleagues or novices or enemies (called the tenor); and the third are the language choices that make our text sound formal and written-like, or informal and spoken-like (called the mode).

The Australian Curriculum: English uses systemic functional linguistics to frame our teaching of language and literacy through literature; that is, whole texts. The Literacy capability, one of the general capabilities that spans all other learning areas (ACARA, 2013), uses the concepts of text knowledge, grammar knowledge, word knowledge and visual knowledge as a framework for systematically teaching about the system of language specific to each learning area. These resources represent important aspects of field, tenor and mode for valued texts in each learning area. The framework gives teachers the opportunity to teach about texts and language in a systematic and integrated way in each learning area.

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Halliday's Theory of Language: A Brief Introduction

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Explore how Halliday's systemic functional linguistics understands and breaks down texts.

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Language has evolved from lengthy paragraphs of emails to concise sentences in instant messaging. This change in language style is caused by people's need for speed, convenience, and the ability to capture and retain someone's attention. After all, who would bother to read a very 5,000-word essay these days?

The rise of short messages: Exploring the popularity of instant messaging platforms.

The digital age brings new mediums for people to be able to communicate in but unlike mails, the capability of these messages to provide real-time communication facilitates short, informal messages. This shift in language use reflects people's need for immediacy, personalization, and interactive communication.

Benefits of short messages over traditional emails.

Shorter messages are (obviously) short... which requires less time and are easier to read.

Short messages allow immediate feedback, allowing a more dynamic conversation similar to those in real life.

Short messages are also versatile, capable of being used in a variety of situations from casual informal chats to formal business communications.

The psychology behind short messages: Why people prefer brief and concise interactions.

The digital age provides a lot of information for everyone, but this is too much information. This overload of information causes the average human attention span to be reduced immensely. Shorter messages accommodate this reduction. They also add a sense of urgency, likely causing the other party to reply quickly. Finally, it reduces the cognitive load on the person reading it since it is much easier to read than long emails used in the past.

The role of emojis and GIFs in short messages.

In any written communication, the visual cues provided by the body are often left unconveyed. However, with the use of emojis and GIFs, people can fill these missing gaps and add more personality to their messages with the addition of emotion and body language.

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In today's fast-paced digital world, communication has undergone a remarkable evolution. Gone are the days of lengthy emails and formal correspondences. Instead, short messages have taken center stage, revolutionizing the way we connect and interact. From the rise of instant messaging apps to the popularity of social media platforms, the shift towards brevity in communication has become more apparent than ever. But why are these short messages replacing traditional emails? The answer lies in their speed, convenience, and ability to capture attention in a world filled with information overload. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this communication revolution, the impact it has on our personal and professional lives, and how we can adapt to this new era of concise and impactful messaging. So, fasten your seatbelts as we embark on a journey to unravel the fascinating evolution of communication in the digital age.

The rise of short messages: Exploring the popularity of instant messaging platforms.

The digital age has brought with it a wave of instant messaging platforms that have revolutionized communication. Applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and WeChat have become household names, boasting billions of users worldwide. These platforms have replaced traditional emails with their real-time, short message capabilities, offering a more instantaneous and convenient means of communication.

Unlike emails, which often involve formal greetings and sign-offs, these platforms facilitate informal conversation, mirroring face-to-face interactions. The conversational nature of these platforms makes communication more engaging, encouraging more frequent exchanges between users. Moreover, these applications have evolved to include features such as voice notes, video calls, and file sharing, further enhancing their appeal.

The rise of these messaging platforms is not just a fringe trend but a reflection of a broader shift towards short, informal, and real-time communication. This shift has been driven by factors such as the growing need for immediacy in communication, the increasing importance of personalization, and the desire for more interactive and engaging communication experiences.

Benefits of short messages over traditional emails.

The shift from traditional emails to short messages can be attributed to several key advantages that the latter offers. Firstly, short messages are quick and easy to read. In a world where time is a precious commodity, the brevity of short messages ensures that they are read promptly, making communication more efficient.

Secondly, short messages allow for instant feedback, creating a dynamic conversation that mirrors real-life interactions. Unlike emails, which can often feel like monologues, short messages foster a dialogue, making communication more engaging. This real-time exchange of ideas can lead to more productive discussions and better decision-making.

Lastly, short messages are versatile. They can be used for a variety of purposes, from casual chats to business communications. The informal nature of short messages also makes them more personal, helping to build stronger relationships and foster a sense of community.

The impact of mobile technology on communication preferences.

The advent of mobile technology has played a significant role in the rise of short messages. With smartphones becoming increasingly commonplace, individuals now have the ability to communicate on the go. This has led to a preference for short, concise messages that can be quickly read and responded to, regardless of location.

Mobile technology has also facilitated the development of various messaging apps, which have capitalized on this trend towards brevity. These apps have incorporated features such as push notifications to ensure that messages are instantly delivered and seen by recipients, further emphasizing the immediacy of short messages.

Moreover, the integration of social media platforms on mobile devices has also contributed to the popularity of short messages. Platforms such as Twitter, with its character limit, not only encourage but necessitate brevity, reinforcing the trend towards short messages.

The psychology behind short messages: Why people prefer brief and concise interactions.

The preference for short messages can also be explained from a psychological perspective. Research has shown that humans have a limited attention span, which has been further reduced in the digital age due to information overload. Short messages cater to this reduced attention span by delivering information in a concise and digestible manner.

Furthermore, short messages create a sense of urgency, which can stimulate a quicker response. This is particularly beneficial in a professional context, where quick decision-making is often crucial. The real-time nature of short messages also replicates face-to-face conversations, creating a more personal and engaging communication experience.

Lastly, the use of short messages can reduce the cognitive load on the recipient. With less information to process, the recipient is more likely to understand and retain the message, leading to more effective communication.

The role of emojis and GIFs in short messages.

Emojis and GIFs have become integral components of short messages, adding a layer of expressiveness and emotion to communication. These visual cues can convey tone and sentiment, which can often be misinterpreted in text-based communication. By adding a visual dimension to short messages, emojis and GIFs can enhance understanding and create a more engaging communication experience.

Emojis and GIFs can also add an element of fun and creativity to communication, fostering a more relaxed and informal conversation. This can help to build rapport and strengthen relationships, whether in a personal or professional context.

Moreover, emojis and GIFs can simplify communication by encapsulating complex ideas or emotions in a single image. This further contributes to the brevity and efficiency of short messages, reinforcing their appeal in the digital age.

Business implications: How companies are adapting to the shift towards short messages

Businesses are increasingly recognizing the power of short messages and are adapting their communication strategies accordingly. Many companies now use instant messaging platforms for internal communication, capitalizing on their speed, efficiency, and ability to foster interactive discussions.

Customer service is another area where short messages have made a significant impact. Companies are using chatbots and live chat features to provide immediate assistance to customers, replacing traditional email support. This real-time interaction not only improves customer satisfaction but also enhances the efficiency of customer service operations.

Furthermore, businesses are leveraging the popularity of short messages in their marketing strategies. From concise social media posts to succinct push notifications, companies are using short messages to capture attention and convey their brand message effectively.

Conclusion: Embracing and preparing for the future of communication.

As communication preferences continue this shift towards shorter messages and away from traditional email, it is crucial to prepare for this change in litigation and the legal space overall. Short messages are becoming increasingly popular due to their speed, convenience, and ability to capture attention - and they are here to stay:

1. Much of your "potentially relevant data" will come from short message platforms, sooner than you think.

2. Having the resources, technology and tools in place or available to you will be key.

3. Ensure that your tools and technology are efficient in and capable of handling short message data sources, such as Slack, Teams in the corporate environment and iMessage, WhatsApp and other chat platforms in the private sector - not just from a collection perspective, but also analysis, review and production.

4. Technology will keep changing and partnering with competent providers to handle these sources, formats and volume will make this an easy transition from email to short messages.

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The Evolution of Communication: Why Short Messages are Replacing Traditional Emails

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In today's fast-paced digital world, communication has undergone a remarkable evolution. Gone are the days of lengthy emails and formal correspondences.

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Suzanne Romaine Language Change Theory

Internal Changes: The factors that come within the language. For example: the influence of dictionaries promoting new words and meanings to a language.

External Changes: The factors that come from outside from changing technological & inventions, social context & ideologies.

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Five of the most useful theories which are easily applied to exams questions are:
ROMAINE
Romaine states that language changes as a result of internal influences within the language e.g. the dictionary and new word formation, and external influences of social contexts e.g. class and gender.
RANDOM FLUCTUATION THOERY
HOCKETT

Language changes due to its instability because of random errors and events within the language system as a response of the ever-changing context of language use and its users e.g. why has 'book' become a synonym for 'cool' - predictive texting.

POSTAL

Language is as unpredictable as fashion and therefore changes in language are totally random.
KELLER
THE INVISIBLE HAND

In order to avoid misunderstandings, speakers use familiar, unambiguous synonyms and avoid difficult expression.

The ambiguous form falls into disuse and thus is not acquired by the following generation of speaker.
ZIPF
People have over time, preferred monosyllables as it is easier to communicate - we even short words that are polysyllabic e.g. disrespect - dis.
THEORY OF LEXICAL GAP
Words are invented, converted or borrowed in order to fill a gap in usage as well as a phonological gap in our language.

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What are five key thoeries of language change?

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Five of the most useful theories which are easily applied to exams questions are: ROMAINE Romaine states that language changes as a result of internal influences...

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History of emoji's

1. starts to be recognized by public from 1979

2. Officially it is verified by American computer scientist Scott E. Fahlman on September 19, 1982.

3. Emoji's are used by many to express their feeling, however some people found it to be ineffective.

• " The use of emoticons has caused controversy online. Critics of emoticons argue that they erode the ability of people to communicate clearly and use language creatively in cyberspace, as well as in other forms of writing. Some have said that they are a lazy means of communication. Others note that they negatively affect the credibility of the author in an e-mail message."

• "Emoticon supporters insist, however, that they help online communication more than they hurt it. At their most basic level, emoticons are perhaps the crudest attempts to address the issue of emotion and feelings among users in computer environments in the absence of the high-bandwidth capacities of live face-to-face contact. They stand in for nonverbal communication in text and e-mail communication and clarify the tone of the message without the need for lengthy exposition."

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emoticon, glyph used in computer-mediated communications that is meant to represent a facial expression in order to communicate the emotional state of the author. When the Internet was entirely text-based, between the late 1960s and the early 1990s, emoticons were rendered in ASCII and were read sideways, as the "smiley" :-) indicates. The word emoticon comes from a contraction of the words emotional icon.

Although it has been claimed that the first emoticon appeared in 1979, the first substantiated use of an emoticon came from American computer scientist Scott E. Fahlman on September 19,1982. He suggested that :-) could indicate humorous posts on a message board and :-( could indicate serious posts.

The use of emoticons has caused controversy online. Critics of emoticons argue that they erode the ability of people to communicate clearly and use language creatively in cyberspace, as well as in other forms of writing. Some have said that they are a lazy means of communication. Others note that they negatively affect the credibility of the author in an e-mail message.

Emoticon supporters insist, however, that they help online communication more than they hurt it. At their most basic level, emoticons are perhaps the crudest attempts to address the issue of emotion and feelings among users in computer environments in the absence of the high-bandwidth capacities of live face-to-face contact. They stand in for nonverbal communication in text and e-mail communication and clarify the tone of the message without the need for lengthy exposition.

Theresa M. Senft

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Emoticon, glyph used in computer-mediated communications that is meant to represent a facial expression in order to communicate the emotional state of the author. When the Internet was entirely text-based, emoticons were rendered in ASCII and were read sideways, as the 'smiley' :-) indicates.

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SMS:

Developed in the UK (late 1980s)

First text message (dmy): 3-12-1992

Commercial service launched in 1995

"Takes off" when they can send messages between 4 main British cell phone networks (1998)

Reasons for shorthand:

Limited # of characters

Cumbersome to type on telephone keypad (the thing where 3 letters share a button with 1 number)

Usage:

basic communication (romance, politics, health)

entertainment

announcement by activists

court reminder

warn about child abduction (AMBER, ~May 2005)

Stats US - messages sent:

June 2001: ~30 million

2005: ~7.3 billion

2008: ~14 billion

2011: ~2.3 trillion messages

Stats UK - messages sent:

1999: ~1 billion

2005: ~30 billion

2012: ~162 billiion

Stats worldwide:

Almost 7.8 trillion messages in 2012

Declines because of texting apps (FB messenger, WeChat, WA)

Text > talk on cell phones

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Table of Contents

texting, also called text messaging, act of sending short messages with cell phones, usually using the Short Messaging Service (SMS).

SMS was developed in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s, and the first text message was sent on December 3, 1992. An SMS commercial service was launched in the United Kingdom in 1995. Text messaging did not take off, however, until it became possible to send messages between the four main British cell phone networks in 1998.

Because typing text into a telephone keypad was cumbersome and the number of characters in a text message was limited, a form of shorthand evolved, especially among young people. This included such shortcuts as UR for "your" or "you're" and BRB for "be right back."

In addition to basic communication and entertainment, other uses for text messaging were developed, including the announcement by activists of demonstrations on the streets of China, Ukraine, and Kuwait and clandestine flirting in societies in which informal contact with the opposite sex was frowned upon. In South Africa counselors were sending information on patients' use of antiretroviral drugs to combat HIV/AIDS through text messages to researchers at Cape Town University. Through text messages Indian politicians were being summoned by staff members to vote on new laws or make up a quorum in parliament. A new computer system was being rolled out in the United Kingdom that would enable text reminders of criminal court sessions to be sent to witnesses. In May 2005 America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alert warnings of child abductions in the United States began to be sent by text to those who chose to receive them, and, as of 2018, 924 children had been recovered.

The number of messages sent in the United Kingdom grew from 1 billion in 1999 to some 30 billion in 2005. In the United States text messaging emerged later but expanded rapidly. From 30 million messages sent in the United States in June 2001, the monthly traffic grew to about 7.3 billion in 2005 and 14 billion in 2008. SMS messaging reached its peak in the United States with 2.3 trillion messages in 2011 and in the United Kingdom the next year with 162 billion messages. In 2012 the number of SMS messages sent worldwide peaked at just under 7.8 trillion and has declined since then because of the rise of texting apps like Facebook Messenger, WeChat, and WhatsApp. The major wireless companies report that users now do more texting than talking on their cell phones.

Alan Stewart The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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texting, also called text messaging, act of sending short messages with cell phones, usually using the Short Messaging Service (SMS). SMS was developed in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s, and the first text message was sent on December 3, 1992. An SMS commercial service was launched in the United Kingdom in 1995.

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This article talks about the language style and habits of Gen Z. This language style started with the influence of social media and a consequence of Gen Z's exposure to it. It reveals how Gen Z's linguistic code is dynamic and not bound by Standard English's grammatical rules. Additionally, it also acknowledges the influence of AAVE (African American Vernacular English) on current modern slangs or terminologies.

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there was Party Line, in 1971, and a random message sent by a student on the first iteration of the internet, in 1969. The first instant messages were for programmers, emergency communications, and computer chat rooms, until they entered the realm of our everyday lives.

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The first instant messages were for programmers and emergency communications until they entered the realm of our everyday lives.

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1. Texting often involves using abbreviations, acronyms, and emojis to convey messages more efficiently.

2. Emojis provide users with a visual way to express emotions and ideas, adding depth and nuance to written communication.

3. Social media has given rise to new vocabulary and slang, words like “selfie,” “trending,” “viral,” and “follower” have become part of our everyday lexicon.

4. Due to its widespread usage, English has become the lingua franca of the internet.

5. Autocorrect often tries to predict what word you intend to type based on context.

6. Terms like “selfie,” “app,” “cyberbullying,” and “streaming” were not part of our vocabulary until recently.

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In today's digital age, smartphones and technology have become an integral part of our lives. Not only have they changed the way we communicate, but they have also had a significant impact on the English language itself. This blog post explores the various ways in which phones and technology have influenced the evolution of the English language, from the rise of text messaging to the emergence of new slang and abbreviations.

With the advent of smartphones, texting has become one of the most popular forms of communication. The convenience and speed of text messaging have revolutionized how we interact with one another. As a result, it has also had a profound effect on the English language.

Texting often involves using abbreviations, acronyms, and emojis to convey messages more efficiently. For instance, phrases like "LOL" (laugh out loud), "BRB" (be right back), and "TTYL" (talk to you later) have become widely used in everyday conversations. The brevity and informality of texting have led to the creation of new linguistic shortcuts that are now commonly understood.

In addition to abbreviations, emojis have emerged as a new form of language, thanks to smartphones. Emojis provide users with a visual way to express emotions and ideas, adding depth and nuance to written communication. They have become so prevalent that in 2015, Oxford Dictionaries named the "Face with Tears of Joy" emoji as the Word of the Year.

Emojis go beyond simple smiley faces and now include a wide variety of symbols representing various objects, activities, and even professions. This visual language has not only enriched our communication but has also become an essential part of online and digital culture.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have transformed the way we interact with others. These platforms have their unique characteristics that have influenced the English language significantly.

One notable aspect is the use of hashtags (#) to categorize and organize content. Hashtags allow users to find related posts and join conversations on specific topics. Over time, some hashtags have become so popular that they have entered mainstream usage. For example, phrases like #ThrowbackThursday and #Selfie are now commonly recognized outside social media platforms.

Additionally, social media has given rise to new vocabulary and slang. Words like "selfie," "trending," "viral," and "follower" have become part of our everyday lexicon. Social media has created an environment where new words and phrases can quickly spread and become widely understood.

The internet has broken down barriers and facilitated communication between people from different parts of the world. This increased connection has led to a significant impact on the English language.

Due to its widespread usage, English has become the lingua franca of the internet. As people from different countries communicate with one another, they bring their unique linguistic influences into the mix. This phenomenon has resulted in the adoption of words, phrases, and idioms from various languages into English.

For instance, words like "schadenfreude" from German or "joie de vivre" from French have found their way into English conversations. This blending of languages is a testament to how technology has facilitated global communication and shaped the English language.

Autocorrect and predictive text features on smartphones have become both a blessing and a curse when it comes to language usage. While they help prevent spelling errors and suggest words for faster typing, they can also lead to unintended mistakes or miscommunications.

Autocorrect often tries to predict what word you intend to type based on context. However, it may not always accurately predict your intentions, resulting in humorous or embarrassing situations. For example, typing "I'm going to duck" instead of "I'm going to deck" can completely change the meaning of a message.

While these features can sometimes be frustrating, they have undoubtedly influenced how we write and communicate. We have become more reliant on technology to assist us in composing messages, which impacts our language choices and overall writing style.

Language is ever-evolving, and technology plays a significant role in driving that evolution. As phones and technology continue to advance, so does our language.

The English language has always been adaptable, absorbing words from other languages and adapting to societal changes. With the influence of phones and technology, this adaptability has accelerated. New words are constantly being coined to describe emerging technologies or concepts.

For example, terms like "selfie," "app," "cyberbullying," and "streaming" were not part of our vocabulary until recently. As technology continues to evolve, so too will our language, as we strive to find new ways to articulate our experiences.

While phones and technology have undoubtedly shaped the English language in numerous ways, it is crucial to strike a balance between embracing these changes and maintaining traditional language skills.

As convenient as texting and digital communication may be, they should not replace face-to-face conversations or formal writing. It is important to continue nurturing strong reading, writing, and speaking skills to ensure effective communication in all contexts.

Phones and technology have undeniably had a profound impact on the English language. From the rise of text messaging with its abbreviations and emojis to the influence of social media platforms and globalization, our language continues to adapt and evolve alongside technological advancements.

While it is fascinating to witness how our language is changing, it is equally important to remember the significance of traditional language skills. Balancing the convenience of technology with proper communication techniques ensures that we can effectively express ourselves in both digital and non-digital contexts.

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The Evolution of the English Language: How Phones and Technology Have Shaped Communication

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In today's digital age, smartphones and technology have become an integral part of our lives. Not only have they changed the way we communicate, but they have also had a significant impact on the...

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Social Media Language :

Informal tone (register)

Use of slang (lexis and register)

Brevity (brief and concise)

Words are abbreviated or shortened (lexis) and there are acronyms (Quick and efficient. Also creates a sense of familiarity and understanding)

Emoji to convey feelings and expressions (graphology)

Summary :

Media language is a way to express thoughts, emotions, and opinions in a way that is authentic and relatable

Creates a sense of community and belonging (hashtag creates sense of belonging)

Becomes a shared culture among different backgrounds

Creates a gap between the younger and older generation because it keeps on evolving

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The Power of Social Media Language: How it Shapes the Current Generation - Language Unlimited

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We will discuss the potential effects of language shift on future generations & how it is already changing the way we perceive the world around us. Let’s go down in & discover the power of social media language

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1. Instant messaging was invented in 1971 as a tool for the U.S government to exchange information during emergencies.

2. In 1996, a company released a free instant messaging program, which started the rise in significance of IM in the world

3. By the early 2000s, with the advent of different computer platforms such as windows, mac os, and linux, many IM programs started to appear. These include apple's ichat, skype, etc.

4. By 2024, instant messaging is used by pretty much everyone.

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instant messaging (IM), form of text-based communication in which two persons participate in a single conversation over their computers or mobile devices within an Internet-based chatroom. IM differs from "Chat," in which the user participates in a more public real-time conversation within a chatroom where everyone on the channel sees everything being said by all other users.

In its simplest form, instant messaging (IM) seeks to accomplish two goals: monitoring presence for the purpose of sending presence-based alerts to users in the chatroom and messaging. The software relies on a central server or servers to monitor presence. When a user logs on to an IM system, the login is recognized, and other online users who have that address listed as a "buddy," or friend, are notified of the user's presence. The software establishes a direct connection between users so they can talk to each other synchronously, in real time. IM has a long history, but it has only been in the late 1990s that IM applications have come to the forefront, due to ongoing battles between commercial ventures engaged in its development.

One of the precursors to a formal IM was the Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS), which originated in 1961 at MIT's Computation Center. CTSS was housed in a large mainframe. Users connected to the mainframe through remote dial-up terminals to send messages back and forth to one another and share files. CTSS soon grew beyond MIT, allowing several hundred users from a number of colleges to converse with one another by 1965, thereby adopting modern IM-like qualities.

IM was invented in 1971 as a chat function on a government computer network. American computer scientist Murray Turoff created IM as part of the Emergency Management Information Systems and Reference Index (EMISARI) for the Office of Emergency Preparedness. Its original purpose was to help exchange information which would aid the U.S. government during emergencies. One of EMISARI's first uses was to facilitate communication among government officials to assist the anti-inflation wage and price control efforts of the Nixon Administration. EMISARI users accessed the system through teletypewriter terminals linked to a central computer. EMISARI continued to be used by the U.S. government for management of emergency situations until 1986. The EMISARI chat function was called the Party Line and was originally developed to replace telephone conferences. Party Line users all had to log on to the same computer over phone lines and read the text of the chats on Teletype units.

During the 1970s, the first public chat software emerged. "Talk," designed to work within the UNIX operating system, also required that users be logged on to the same computer to use the program. This was truly the forerunner of IM systems, since users could send a message to anyone else on the system and a note would pop up on the user's terminal. This software was often used in combination with "Finger," a program that allowed users to determine whether one user or another was present online at the time.

The first large-scale rollout of IM came from America Online (AOL). IM had been a part of the AOL browser as early as 1988, in the form of lists of acquaintances that let AOL customers know when their friends, relatives, or other acquaintances who also used AOL were online. Such lists were called "buddy lists" after the rollout of AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) in 1997. AIM flourished, and, as the popularity of the Internet grew, so did the demand for software systems that allowed real-time conversation. The late 1980s also saw the introduction of Internet Relay Chat (IRC) software for group conversations, and by the mid-1990s other IM software, such as ICQ (or "I Seek You") for non-AOL Internet users, also became available. An Israeli company, Mirabilis, launched ICQ in 1996 as a free messaging program. AOL later bought out ICQ but kept the ICQ interface intact, even though it competed with AOL's own IM system. By the early 2000s, several IM systems were in use on the Internet, with multiple versions for different computer platforms ( Windows, Mac OS, Linux). Such systems included Apple's iChat, which made its debut in 2002 during the rollout of OS X Jaguar, the third version of Apple's Mac OS X operating system, Skype, an IM and video conferencing service that was introduced in 2003, and Google Talk (which is also known as Gchat or Google Chat), which was first linked to the company's Gmail service in 2005. IMs became linked to social media platforms with the release of MySpaceIM by MySpace in 2006, Facebook 's Facebook Chat in 2008, and Facebook Messenger in 2011.

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instant messaging (IM), form of text-based communication in which two persons participate in a single conversation over their computers or mobile devices within an Internet-based chatroom. IM differs from "Chat," in which the user participates in a more public real-time conversation within a chatroom where everyone on the channel sees everything being said by all other users.

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Frederik - Positivity of instant messaging

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Frederik - Positivity of instant messaging

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The results showed that the MIM (Mobile instant messaging) group was more behaviorally engaged in discussion activities, producing more messages, more words, and higher rates of participation, task completion, and interaction. Emotionally, no statistically significant difference was found in students’ affective evaluation of course interaction and satisfaction between the two groups. However, MIM appeared to help students with improved intimacy and interpersonal relationships. Cognitively, the MIM group was more engaged than the AOD group. In particular, MIM seemed to facilitate interactive idea exchange and thus contributing to more “creating” activities.

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Effects of using mobile instant messaging on student behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement: a quasi-experimental study - International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

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Mobile instant messaging (MIM) has become the most popular means for young people to communicate. MIM apps typically come with a myriad of features that educators may leverage to increase student learning. However, it remains poorly understood to what extent and in what aspect MIM can facilitate student engagement. We address the gap by comparing the effects of using MIM and asynchronous online discussion (AOD) on student online engagement, using a quasi-experimental study involving a historical cohort control group. Understanding which communication mode can better promote student online engagement is particularly important during the current widespread use of online learning. Specifically, we examined engagement from the behavioral, emotional, and cognitive dimensions. The results showed that the MIM group was more behaviorally engaged in discussion activities, producing more messages, more words, and higher rates of participation, task completion, and interaction. Emotionally, no statistically significant difference was found in students’ affective evaluation of course interaction and satisfaction between the two groups. However, MIM appeared to help students with improved intimacy and interpersonal relationships. Cognitively, the MIM group was more engaged than the AOD group. In particular, MIM seemed to facilitate interactive idea exchange and thus contributing to more “creating” activities. We conclude by providing suggestions for future instructional practice and research directions.

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Language theories summarization:

🧠 Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf: Linguistic determinism hypothesis.

🧩 Marco Holliday: Functional theory suggests language changes based on users' needs.

🌊 David Crystal: Language is like a tide, constantly changing, not for the worst, or for the better, "just changes".

↗️ Charles Jaco: Random fluctuation theory explains language change through random events and errors

🌍 Suzanne Romaine: Internal and external factors contribute to language change.

🎭 Norman Fairclough: Conversationalization and synthetic personalization in marketing texts.

📱 Sharron Goodman: Increased informalization in professional encounters.

✍️ Donald MacKinnon: Attitudes towards language use categorized ascorrect, personal, socially acceptable, morally acceptable, appropriatein context, and useful.

📢 Bollinger: The use of new form isms in advertise

🕊️ Justman: Language manipulation by the Nazis to make events easier to ignore.

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English Language Change: Theories & Attitudes | A LEVEL REVISION | NARRATOR: BARBARA NJAU

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History of IM:

1992 -> First SMS was sent

1988 -> First publicly available instant messenger (Internet Relay Chat)

1999 -> Emojis were invented by the Japanese

2000s -> More social media spaces (ex: MySpace)

2005 -> BBM hit mobile phones (less limitations than SMS)

2009 -> WhatsApp was released

Nowadays even e-commerce platforms have incorporated IM

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If we want to talk about instant messaging, we have got to mention Blackberry. Once so popular and addictive that it was nicknamed the Crackberry, Blackberry pulled the plug on its smartphones in January 2022.

The devices with physical qwerty keyboards were once the staple of white-collar professionals and even former US president Barack Obama couldn't put his down. And the Blackberry Messenger (BBM) - similar to today's iMessage - service ruled the roost in corporate boardrooms.

BBM, as the first instant messenger for mobile phones, was at then deemed superior to the delayed and expensive SMS service. Yet SMS was seen as a revolutionary change from voice calls at one point of time.

And instant messaging itself has seen various shifts in how we communicate: from plain texts to winks, voice messages to stickers. We take a look at how instant messaging has evolved across the years.

History of instant messaging. Photo by Unsplash.

Before messaging came voice calls

Remember the time when phones were just for voice calls? The first mobile phone call was made in 1973, heralding a new wave of communication. Such a momentous occasion was unfortunately not marked by momentous words, with the conversation reportedly being mostly pleasantries and checking whether the sound quality was good.

Short Message Service, or SMS

Reading text on your phone did not become a thing until almost two decades later. In 1992, the first SMS was sent and once again, it was a banal "Merry Christmas".

The use of SMS grew strongly over the next twenty years, with millennials becoming adept at tapping out messages on the 3 X 4 numeric keyboard.

In Singapore, SMS peaked in popularity in 2011, before seeing a steady decline as smartphones became increasingly adopted.

Advent of instant messaging (IM)

Older millennials are the first to use the internet before adulthood and will no doubt fondly remember the first publicly available instant messenger - Internet Relay Chat, better known by the initials IRC. Created in 1988, it spread globally by 1989, with real-time online conversations - a major innovation for its time - taking place in so-called "chat rooms".

Other popular instant messaging programmes hit the market over the next decade, including ICQ in 1996 (which is still alive!), Yahoo Messenger in 1998, and MSN Messenger in 1999.

Emojis were also first introduced in 1999, enabling people to communicate online beyond simply using text. The first emojis fit into a 12 by 12 pixel grid and were a Japanese invention. The word emoji itself is derived from the Japanese characters 絵 ("e:, picture), 文 ("mo", write) and 字 ("ji", character).

BBM - IM hits the mobile phone

Mobile phones truly became an instant messaging vehicle when BBM was introduced to Blackberry devices in 2005. Although texting had already been ongoing for years, BBM had several advantages such as not being limited to 160 characters per message, having "delivered" and "read" receipts, and group chats.

This laid the foundation for the mobile instant messaging experience that we are all familiar with today.

Social networks get into IMs

The second half of the 2000s was when social media started taking off as a phenomenon. Over the years, platforms such as MySpace and Facebook launched their own messaging services, giving users even more choices to instantly get in touch with their contacts.

While some would die off, others became increasingly sophisticated, with the ability to attach photos and videos.

Chat apps dominate

Today, the vast majority of texting happens over chat apps. Which you use probably depends on which service is the most popular in your country. In Thailand, it'll be Line. In China, WeChat is what people are using. In Singapore, WhatsApp rules.

Whatapps was launched in 2009, just as many users were switching over to smartphones and discovering that, by adopting WhatsApp, they were no longer limited by the number of free SMSes bundled by their telco. It attained over 400 million users across the world by 2014 and was acquired by Facebook.

To keep its popularity, WhatsApp also steadily introduced new features such as voice messages in 2013.

Another IM app that has grown in popularity in recent years is Telegram. Although it has been in existence since 2013, it gained new prominence in January 2021 when WhatsApp updated its terms of service to parent company Facebook and other subsidiaries to collect user data including phone numbers and locations.

Many users were spooked and flocked to Telegram, with the app announcing that it gained 25 million new users within three days.

But Telegram is not just a WhatsApp replacement. Over the years, it has offered new ways of instant messaging, such as Stickers, GIFs, and video messages.

Not just for pleasure but also for business

IM is currently an accepted way of life not just in the personal realm but the business space as well. Witness how Slack has taken over as the main communication tool in many companies. Lots of firms have WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger business accounts to communicate with customers.

E-commerce apps such as Shopee and Lazada have their in-built IM tool for shoppers to talk to sellers.

Perhaps some day, another communication method will rise up and overtake IM's dominance the same way SMS has dropped in relevance. But right now, it's a world of IM and we've never been chatting more.

https://www.tech.gov.sg/media/technews/history-of-instant-messaging

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Text me: Instant messaging through the years

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If we want to talk about instant messaging, we have got to mention Blackberry. Once so popular and addictive that...

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According to David Crystal, The actual English language has not changed language that much due to the creation of the internet.

There are no significantly new patterns of vocabulary, verbs, or grammar that emerge due to the internet. (There are some new words, but the amount is very minor compared to the million words in English)

One thing to note though is punctutation. As the internet allows for new forms of punctuation, such as emojis to come alive. People also tend to use punctuation in an exxagerated form because they can just hold a key down while messaging online.

Overall, the English language on the internet is still the same as before the internet came to existence but it ahs certainly become expressively richer.

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SMS vs Instant Messaging:

SMS - short message service

Sends messages over cell network (no internet required)

Only requires the phone's built-in SMS app, no app restrictions

Low character limit

Expensive over time

Lacks features like data backup, document sharing, viewing online status, large chat groups, etc.

Instant Messaging

Sends messages over the internet

Requires apps, only users with the same apps can communicate

Very high character limit

Cheaper over time

Has many features that SMS doesn't have

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Instant messaging and texting both allow you to connect to people via their mobile devices and boast the common advantage of being informal, instantaneous forms of communication.

In the business context, texting and instant messaging are generally used for highly targeted marketing campaigns, lead management, customer service, etc.

Texting vs. messaging

Although they are often used interchangeably, texting and messaging are separate forms of communication, requiring different resources and having different strengths and weaknesses.

What's the difference between texting and instant messaging

Texting refers to sending and receiving text messages through the old-school SMS protocol, while instant messaging means communicating using apps like Whatsapp or Facebook messenger.

You can find the main differences between texting and messaging broken down below:

Network: Instant messaging communication can only happen with an internet connection, while texting takes place over a cellular network.

Software: You can only send instant messages from a downloadable application like Whatsapp or Facebook messenger, and you cannot send messages across applications while texting only uses the built-in SMS software of your cellular phone.

Cost: text messages are charged per unit - a single sms has a limitation of 160 characters - and the cost goes up when sending messages internationally; instant messages are free to send all over the world and have a very high character limitation (a Whatsapp message can have up to 65536 characters).

Functionality: Instant messaging offers functionalities that texting lacks, such as groups, data backup, online status and read receipts.

What is instant messaging?

Instant messaging is an internet-based text communication where two or more people can exchange information in real-time using the same application. Modern instant messaging allows users to send almost unlimited amounts of text and media in various formats, free of charge.

All instant messaging apps require an internet connection for the messages to get through and can therefore be installed and accessed from any device that has the capability to connect to a network. Message history is also synchronized across all devices the application is installed on.

Instant messaging applications have different capabilities and advantages, depending on the audience and scope they're designed for.

Informal everyday communication - These apps have a simple interface and basic media-sharing capabilities and are generally free to download and use. WhatsApp and Facebook messenger are among the most popular instant messaging applications in this category.

End-to-end encrypted communication - Intended for users that are concerned with privacy, these apps promise that the content of the messages exchanged within the app cannot be accessed by a third party. Examples include Telegram, Signal, and Wickr, the latter not requiring your phone number or email to open an account.

Business communication - Intended for corporate use; the best example is Slack, which is designed for team chat and integrates with various apps generally used in corporate work. These kinds of apps are much more complex and generally require paid subscriptions to use.

Advantages of instant messaging

Instant messaging apps allow you to send unlimited amounts of texts to recipients all over the world, completely free of charge. You can also attach images, videos, PDFs, or any kind of file. This makes instant messaging an appropriate channel for live customer support for small businesses.

Character length for instant messages is up to 400 times higher than text messages, and attachment size is at least 83 times higher.

Instant messaging apps also have modern features that are not available for SMS messaging. The most common are:

Online status: you can see if a user is active at the current moment and even the last time they were active.

Read receipts: you can see whether your message went through and also if your recipient actually read your message.

Groups: you can create and moderate chat groups (Whatsapp allows groups with a maximum of 512 people; Facebook messenger allows 250)

Data Backup: instant messaging apps allow you to manually download or automatically back up data.

What is texting?

Text messaging refers to SMS - short message service - the protocol used by mobile devices to send and receive text messages over a 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G network. The only software required is the native SMS application of a mobile device, and communication works across different cellular networks and mobile device models.

Advantages of texting

SMS has a broader reach than instant messaging or even email, as it is estimated that 91% of the world's population owns a mobile phone. This means there are 7.26 billion people who can receive a text message. Texting doesn't require an internet connection or having the same instant messaging app as your recipient.

In comparison, the most popular instant messaging app, WhatsApp, has 2 billion users, followed by Facebook messenger with 976 million.

Besides having a wider reach than instant messaging, texting is also most consumers' preferred way to communicate with brands, as it is much less intrusive than a phone call.

SMS communication is more efficient and reliable in aspects where instant messaging usually falls behind:

Always connected: Recipients only need cellular service to receive your message, whereas receiving instant messages requires the recipient to be online and logged into the application.

Everyone knows how to text: SMS has been around for over 25 years, and all phone users know how to communicate by text.

Business SMS: You can use a business SMS service that gives you access to features that are way beyond the usual capabilities of instant messaging, such as scheduling, personalization, mass texting, and much more.

Should you use texting or instant messaging for your business

Texting is helpful for communicating time-sensitive matters, such as important alerts, letting customers know about a flash sale, or sending an appointment reminder text.

While instant messaging is useful for specific purposes, such as live customer support, texting provides a broader utility that makes it invaluable for any modern business.

It is not a case of choosing whether your business should use messaging or texting. Instead, use each according to its strengths.

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SMS texting vs instant messaging: What are the differences

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While text messaging only needs cell phone service, instant messaging requires an internet connection. Each one comes with its own benefits and limitations.

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Text communication lacks physical cues like body language and facial expressions.

Absence of these cues makes it easy to misinterpret the intent of messages.

Messages may not convey the intended meaning accurately.

Important matters are best addressed through in-person communication to ensure clarity.

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Instant messages offer you a quick and easy way to talk to classmates and teachers. Whether you are using Google's Hangouts service, AOL Instant Messenger, Facebook messaging, Skype or one of many other services, instant messages provide a functional, fast-paced conversation that allows you to work on other tasks while you converse. However, it's important to remember that there are drawbacks to relying on instant messages as your primary form of communication, and that instant messaging may not be appropriate for all topics or tasks.

Interpretation

Text is a limited form of communication. When speaking with a person face to face, you can read his intent and emotions through body language and facial expressions. Because none of these physical cues exist in an instant messaging conversation, it is easy to misinterpret the intent of a given message. Messages you send may not read the way you think, and messages you receive may carry more or less meaning than you suspect. If you have something important that needs addressing, it is best to rely on in-person communication to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Productivity

Having all of your friends just a click away is certainly convenient, but represents a massive threat to your daily productivity. It is easy to become distracted with an instant messaging conversation, losing vital study or project time in the process. If you're working on a deadline or you have important tasks that need addressing, power down your instant messaging software so you do not lose focus while working. Alternatively, put up a "Do Not Disturb" flag so friends know you are busy.

Security

Instant messages provide you with very little in terms of security. When you send a message to a friend or classroom contact, there is no way to be sure that information isn't being viewed by another person near the recipient's computer. Additionally, logging and copying instant messaging conversations is a simple enough task for savvy computer users. Never accept file transfers from people you do not know, and keep private and sensitive information out of your instant messaging channels.

Reflection

One of the biggest advantages of instant messaging is also one of its biggest disadvantages: the speed at which you can send messages. When sending an email, for example, you have time to read the message before sending to analyze it for tone and intention. You can edit out mistakes and remove or reword statements that sound overly aggressive or negative. Instant messaging offers no opportunity to reflect on messages before you send them, making it easier to accidentally upset a contact with a poorly worded message. Take your time when composing instant messages to prevent errors and miscommunication.

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Instant messages offer you a quick and easy way to talk to classmates and teachers. Whether you are using Google's Hangouts service, AOL Instant Messenger, Facebook messaging, Skype or one of many other services, instant messages provide a functional, fast-paced conversation that allows you to work on other tasks while you converse.

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Instant messaging, according to many may threatens youth literacy since it creates and compounds undesirable reading and writing habits and discourages students from learning standard literacy skills

However, instant messaging seems to be a beneficial force in the development of youth literacy since it promotes regular contact with words, use of a written medium for communication, and the development of an alternative form of literacy

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Words, Sentences, and Symbols:

Instant messaging condenses communication into shorter, more concise forms. Users often rely on abbreviations, acronyms, and emojis to convey meaning efficiently.

Discourse:

IM conversations follow specific patterns, such as greetings, closings, and turn-taking. The informality of IM allows for dynamic discourse structures.

Historical Concepts:

Technical Development:

Instant messaging emerged in the 1990s, with pioneers like ICQ, AIM, and MSN Messenger. These platforms shaped the language and norms of online communication.

Language Evolution:

As technology advanced, so did the language used in IM. From basic text to multimedia-rich content, IM adapted to user needs.

Cultural/Social Concepts:

Code-Switching:

Bilingual and multilingual users engage in online code-switching, blending languages within a single conversation.

LEARN MORE BY READING

The Impact of Cultural Differences on Instant Messaging Communication in China and Germany | SpringerLink

Instant messaging and relationship satisfaction across different ages and cultures | Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace

(PDF) Instant messaging social networks Individual, relational, and cultural characteristics (researchgate.net)

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Abstract

Instant messaging (IM) is a popular real-time communication tool to facilitate cooperation. This study attempts to provide a better understanding of instant messaging communication in China and Germany. The study aims to investigate the effects of individualistic versus collectivistic culture and low- versus high-context communication on the preference of multi-party chat and the level of responsiveness in instant messaging communication. 72 Chinese and 60 Germans participated in the survey. The results revealed that Chinese users significantly preferred multi-party chat, seldom sent messages to offline contacts, and used emoticons more frequently to increase the respond speed than German users. Further implications on designing effective cross-cultural communication tools were discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P.R. China

Hui Li, Pei-Luen Patrick Rau & Andreas Hohmann

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Department of Industrial Engineering, Institute of Human Factors and Ergonomics, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P.R. China

P. L. Patrick Rau

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Li, H., Rau, PL.P., Hohmann, A. (2011). The Impact of Cultural Differences on Instant Messaging Communication in China and Germany. In: Rau, P.L.P. (eds) Internationalization, Design and Global Development. IDGD 2011. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 6775. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21660-2_9

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The Impact of Cultural Differences on Instant Messaging Communication in China and Germany

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Instant messaging (IM) is a popular real-time communication tool to facilitate cooperation. This study attempts to provide a better understanding of instant messaging communication in China and Germany. The study aims to investigate the effects of individualistic...

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Traditionally, rebus messages were defined as a form of writing that consisted entirely of pictures or pictographs to represent the sounds of words, instead of the objects to which they refer. Rebus can be divided into two:

a. Logograms

Example: "C" for "See" or "L8r" for "Later"

Logograms are symbols that represent the words or whole words. The use of single letters, numerals, combination between numeral and letter, and typhographic symbols to represent words or due to have similar sound withword which are represented.

b. Pictograps

Example: 😃 to mean person is happy.

When visual shapes, or pictures are used to represent object or concept,

they are known as pictograms or pictographs. Can be called emoticons, emojis, gesture or sometimes called sticker. They typically convey an emotion or a facial expression, though objects can also be represented.

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According to Crystal text language is different from the conventional language varieties, the following are the ways in which it differs or forms its unique identity with regard to the conventionally used language:

1. Abbreviations: An abbreviation is a shortened or contracted form of a word, used to represent the whole word as Dr for Doctor, Msg for Message.

2. Initialisms: A kind of abbreviation consisting of only the first letters that are pronounced separately such as CPU for Central Processing Unit and OMG for Oh my God.

3. Acronyms: Acronym is an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a whole word for example, LOL for Laugh Out Loud, YOLO for You only live once.

4. Shortenings: Shortenings are words with missing end letters (Thurlow & Brown, 2003). Days and months are commonly shortened in SMS and IM, for example, "sun/Sunday", and "Feb/February.

5. Contractions: Contractions are words with omitted middle letters, usually vowels (Crystal, 2008). It is like contracting or combining two words to make it as a single word. E.g., using "don't" instead of "do not", I’ve for I have. Text language also use contractions like gonna for going to.

6. Clippings: In clipping a word is reduced or shortened without changing the meaning of the word. Examples of clipping are goin for going, ad for advertisement, photo for photograph.

7. Single Letter/Number Homophones: Also termed logograms, phonetic reductions, or letter/number homophones use a letter or-number to represent a word or part (Thurlow & Poff, in press). Examples are c for see, u for you, 2 for to, l8r for later.

8. Emoticons: Emoticons are symbols or combinations of symbols used to convey an emotion with the use of punctuation marks or other objects like :-) happy, :-( sad.

9. Typographic Symbols: Typographic symbols are single or multiple characters which represent whole words (Bieswanger, 2008). A popular example is one or several "x" used to symbolize a kiss, or "zzzz's" to suggest sleep, tiredness or boredom, @ for at and <3 for heart.

10. Accent stylization: Replacing the alphabets with others for obtaining stylized look like yew for you, dat for that, xmart for smart etc.

11. Excessive use of punctuation: The excessive and useless use of punctuation or capitalization for expressing emphasis or intensity of emotion such as ‘what!!!! For ‘what!’ NEVER for never.

12. Repetitions: Repeating some letters to mirror lengthening sometimes for emphasis such as soooo for so, grrreeeeennn for green, Yesssss for just yes. In text language, the standard spelling conventions and grammar rules are overlooked and the use of “textisms” or “text slang” is widespread. As stated by Nenagh Kemp (2011), these orthographically unconventional language forms are used for a number of reasons. They function as shortcuts to reduce writing time for a quick response. As the main purpose of language is communication and the main purpose of a text message is just to share some information, or to convey a message, so if that purpose is being achieved in less writing time than what is the worry. Another reason of using text language is the past restriction of 160 character text message limit; hence the text language is used in order to achieve the shortness and economy required. A small screen and an alphanumeric keypad contain both numbers and letters on the same keys. It makes difficult for the texter to type, so text language can help reducing texter’s difficulty. It can save time, space and money; it is considered ‘cool’ ‘stylized’ and ‘modern’ by many young people.

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The history of IM (instant messaging)

First developed in 1971 by the American government to facilitate communication to assist anti-inflation wage and price control efforts of the Nixon Administration.

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instant messaging (IM), form of text-based communication in which two persons participate in a single conversation over their computers or mobile devices within an Internet-based chatroom. IM differs from "Chat," in which the user participates in a more public real-time conversation within a chatroom where everyone on the channel sees everything being said by all other users.

In its simplest form, instant messaging (IM) seeks to accomplish two goals: monitoring presence for the purpose of sending presence-based alerts to users in the chatroom and messaging. The software relies on a central server or servers to monitor presence. When a user logs on to an IM system, the login is recognized, and other online users who have that address listed as a "buddy," or friend, are notified of the user's presence. The software establishes a direct connection between users so they can talk to each other synchronously, in real time. IM has a long history, but it has only been in the late 1990s that IM applications have come to the forefront, due to ongoing battles between commercial ventures engaged in its development.

One of the precursors to a formal IM was the Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS), which originated in 1961 at MIT's Computation Center. CTSS was housed in a large mainframe. Users connected to the mainframe through remote dial-up terminals to send messages back and forth to one another and share files. CTSS soon grew beyond MIT, allowing several hundred users from a number of colleges to converse with one another by 1965, thereby adopting modern IM-like qualities.

IM was invented in 1971 as a chat function on a government computer network. American computer scientist Murray Turoff created IM as part of the Emergency Management Information Systems and Reference Index (EMISARI) for the Office of Emergency Preparedness. Its original purpose was to help exchange information which would aid the U.S. government during emergencies. One of EMISARI's first uses was to facilitate communication among government officials to assist the anti-inflation wage and price control efforts of the Nixon Administration. EMISARI users accessed the system through teletypewriter terminals linked to a central computer. EMISARI continued to be used by the U.S. government for management of emergency situations until 1986. The EMISARI chat function was called the Party Line and was originally developed to replace telephone conferences. Party Line users all had to log on to the same computer over phone lines and read the text of the chats on Teletype units.

During the 1970s, the first public chat software emerged. "Talk," designed to work within the UNIX operating system, also required that users be logged on to the same computer to use the program. This was truly the forerunner of IM systems, since users could send a message to anyone else on the system and a note would pop up on the user's terminal. This software was often used in combination with "Finger," a program that allowed users to determine whether one user or another was present online at the time.

The first large-scale rollout of IM came from America Online (AOL). IM had been a part of the AOL browser as early as 1988, in the form of lists of acquaintances that let AOL customers know when their friends, relatives, or other acquaintances who also used AOL were online. Such lists were called "buddy lists" after the rollout of AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) in 1997. AIM flourished, and, as the popularity of the Internet grew, so did the demand for software systems that allowed real-time conversation. The late 1980s also saw the introduction of Internet Relay Chat (IRC) software for group conversations, and by the mid-1990s other IM software, such as ICQ (or "I Seek You") for non-AOL Internet users, also became available. An Israeli company, Mirabilis, launched ICQ in 1996 as a free messaging program. AOL later bought out ICQ but kept the ICQ interface intact, even though it competed with AOL's own IM system. By the early 2000s, several IM systems were in use on the Internet, with multiple versions for different computer platforms ( Windows, Mac OS, Linux). Such systems included Apple's iChat, which made its debut in 2002 during the rollout of OS X Jaguar, the third version of Apple's Mac OS X operating system, Skype, an IM and video conferencing service that was introduced in 2003, and Google Talk (which is also known as Gchat or Google Chat), which was first linked to the company's Gmail service in 2005. IMs became linked to social media platforms with the release of MySpaceIM by MySpace in 2006, Facebook 's Facebook Chat in 2008, and Facebook Messenger in 2011.

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instant messaging (IM), form of text-based communication in which two persons participate in a single conversation over their computers or mobile devices within an Internet-based chatroom. IM differs from "Chat," in which the user participates in a more public real-time conversation within a chatroom where everyone on the channel sees everything being said by all other users.

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The History of Instant Messaging (IM)

1. It was invented in 1971 by an American government organization called EMISARI

2. EMISARI used IM to communicate and manage emergencies as a replacement for telephone conferences

3. In 1997, IM became a common practice in the public with the launch of a platform called AIM

4. Many other platforms soon followed it, such as Yahoo! and MSN Messenger

5. As technology developed, IM became even more integrated into daily life with the launch of platforms like Apple's iChat, Gmail's Google Talk, and MySpace's MySpaceIM

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The first instant messages were for programmers and emergency communications until they entered the realm of our everyday lives.

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Theories :

Powers of Global Language : David Crystal

Political = Use of a specific language for international public relations/national political schemes

Military = Use of a specific language for military operations (Morse code & Sign language usually)

Economical = Use of a specific language for marketing/economical purposes

Cultural = Use of a specific language by a majority of people

Sci-tech = Use of a specific language for scientific reports/documentation

CAT(Communication Accommodation Theory) : Howard Giles

Following Howard Giles’ theory of communication accommodation, the speaker implements convergence/divergence towards… [Partner of communication, Other Linguistic Style]

Convergence

Convergence motive for [Partner of communication] = To gain approval from one another

Convergence motive for [Other Linguistic Style] = Seek effective communication

Divergence

Divergence motive for [Partner of communication] = Emphasize distinctiveness

Divergence motive for [Other Linguistic Style] = Reflects dislike towards the particular linguistic style

Overt and Covert Prestige : William Labov

Displaying proudness for non-standard English/Dislike of standard English and using non-standard English = Covert Prestige

Displaying proudness for standard English & Dislike for non-standard English = Overt Prestige

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Instant messaging, while no longer restricted to certain sizes like in the past, still retains the habit of keeping everything as short as possible, and also convenience, hence the "instant" in instant messaging. The extremes of these 2 points is using emojis and stickers, condensing what would otherwise be a long message into one image that people can easily interpret given the context. It's also easy to send; where texts take time to type, emojis and stickers only needed one click

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Bryan - History of Instant Messaging Language

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Bryan - History of Instant Messaging Language

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Emojis are not used until 1999, but that is not even a emoji, its only a character at that time it was a chinese character.

Before the internet, communication was more formal, with minimal use of slang or abbreviations. However, telegraphy in the 1900 had its form of shorthand due to the cost of sending long messages.

Emoticons came first before emojis, as it is already used in the early 1900, while emojis are used in the late 1900.

Chatting need to be shortened due to BBM word limit of 250, therefore since BBM entered the world and everyone uses it, it makes us shortened our chats.

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If we want to talk about instant messaging, we have got to mention Blackberry. Once so popular and addictive that it was nicknamed the Crackberry, Blackberry pulled the plug on its smartphones in January 2022.

The devices with physical qwerty keyboards were once the staple of white-collar professionals and even former US president Barack Obama couldn't put his down. And the Blackberry Messenger (BBM) - similar to today's iMessage - service ruled the roost in corporate boardrooms.

BBM, as the first instant messenger for mobile phones, was at then deemed superior to the delayed and expensive SMS service. Yet SMS was seen as a revolutionary change from voice calls at one point of time.

And instant messaging itself has seen various shifts in how we communicate: from plain texts to winks, voice messages to stickers. We take a look at how instant messaging has evolved across the years.

History of instant messaging. Photo by Unsplash.

Before messaging came voice calls

Remember the time when phones were just for voice calls? The first mobile phone call was made in 1973, heralding a new wave of communication. Such a momentous occasion was unfortunately not marked by momentous words, with the conversation reportedly being mostly pleasantries and checking whether the sound quality was good.

Short Message Service, or SMS

Reading text on your phone did not become a thing until almost two decades later. In 1992, the first SMS was sent and once again, it was a banal "Merry Christmas".

The use of SMS grew strongly over the next twenty years, with millennials becoming adept at tapping out messages on the 3 X 4 numeric keyboard.

In Singapore, SMS peaked in popularity in 2011, before seeing a steady decline as smartphones became increasingly adopted.

Advent of instant messaging (IM)

Older millennials are the first to use the internet before adulthood and will no doubt fondly remember the first publicly available instant messenger - Internet Relay Chat, better known by the initials IRC. Created in 1988, it spread globally by 1989, with real-time online conversations - a major innovation for its time - taking place in so-called "chat rooms".

Other popular instant messaging programmes hit the market over the next decade, including ICQ in 1996 (which is still alive!), Yahoo Messenger in 1998, and MSN Messenger in 1999.

Emojis were also first introduced in 1999, enabling people to communicate online beyond simply using text. The first emojis fit into a 12 by 12 pixel grid and were a Japanese invention. The word emoji itself is derived from the Japanese characters 絵 ("e:, picture), 文 ("mo", write) and 字 ("ji", character).

BBM - IM hits the mobile phone

Mobile phones truly became an instant messaging vehicle when BBM was introduced to Blackberry devices in 2005. Although texting had already been ongoing for years, BBM had several advantages such as not being limited to 160 characters per message, having "delivered" and "read" receipts, and group chats.

This laid the foundation for the mobile instant messaging experience that we are all familiar with today.

Social networks get into IMs

The second half of the 2000s was when social media started taking off as a phenomenon. Over the years, platforms such as MySpace and Facebook launched their own messaging services, giving users even more choices to instantly get in touch with their contacts.

While some would die off, others became increasingly sophisticated, with the ability to attach photos and videos.

Chat apps dominate

Today, the vast majority of texting happens over chat apps. Which you use probably depends on which service is the most popular in your country. In Thailand, it'll be Line. In China, WeChat is what people are using. In Singapore, WhatsApp rules.

Whatapps was launched in 2009, just as many users were switching over to smartphones and discovering that, by adopting WhatsApp, they were no longer limited by the number of free SMSes bundled by their telco. It attained over 400 million users across the world by 2014 and was acquired by Facebook.

To keep its popularity, WhatsApp also steadily introduced new features such as voice messages in 2013.

Another IM app that has grown in popularity in recent years is Telegram. Although it has been in existence since 2013, it gained new prominence in January 2021 when WhatsApp updated its terms of service to parent company Facebook and other subsidiaries to collect user data including phone numbers and locations.

Many users were spooked and flocked to Telegram, with the app announcing that it gained 25 million new users within three days.

But Telegram is not just a WhatsApp replacement. Over the years, it has offered new ways of instant messaging, such as Stickers, GIFs, and video messages.

Not just for pleasure but also for business

IM is currently an accepted way of life not just in the personal realm but the business space as well. Witness how Slack has taken over as the main communication tool in many companies. Lots of firms have WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger business accounts to communicate with customers.

E-commerce apps such as Shopee and Lazada have their in-built IM tool for shoppers to talk to sellers.

Perhaps some day, another communication method will rise up and overtake IM's dominance the same way SMS has dropped in relevance. But right now, it's a world of IM and we've never been chatting more.

https://www.tech.gov.sg/media/technews/history-of-instant-messaging

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Text me: Instant messaging through the years

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If we want to talk about instant messaging, we have got to mention Blackberry. Once so popular and addictive that...

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In a sense, social media began on May 24, 1844, with a series of electronic dots and dashes tapped out by hand on a telegraph machine.

Apple’s first iPhone, launched by Steve Jobs in 2007, helped shift the focus of online community building to mobile. Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, and other social media services thrived in the mobile app environment.

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The Evolution of Social Media: How Did It Begin, and Where Could It Go Next?

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Social media has evolved from a platform for virtual community to a vital business tool. Explore the ways marketers use social media to reach consumers.

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Theories regarding social media English language development in terms of its impact towards the current generation, cultural norms, creating a sense of community, political discourse, and mental health. It also talks about the challenges it bring as well as the responsibility of using social media language.

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Summary : Instant Messages, IM, in English includes a lot of slang and abbreviations where acronyms are made out of the first letters of several words.

1. BRB - Be Right Back

2. BTW - By The Way

3. OMW - On My Way

4. FYI - For Your Information

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Whether you use SMS, or an instant messaging app on your smartphone or tablet, you'll have seen some words that just don't look like normal English. even if you knew all the words in the dictionary, it would be hard to understand a lot of instant messages in English because of all the slang and abbreviations people use.

Don't worry, though. It's actually quite easy to understand English in instant messages. Most instant message slang falls into two categories: acronyms and contractions. Once you understand these, you'll be able to master SMS or instant messaging in English.

Acronyms

Acronyms are made of the first letter of several words (such as UN for United Nations). In instant messaging, people replace common phrases with acronyms. Check out these examples:

OIC - Oh I see.

BRB - Be right back...

BFN - Bye for now

LOL - Laughing out loud

ASAP - As soon as possible

BTW - By the way...

FYI - For your information...

JK - Just kidding

TTYL - Talk to you later

Contractions

Contractions in instant messages remove unnecessary parts of words while keeping the meaning clear. You can often take the vowels out of a word and still know the general sound of it. We can also use numbers to replace sounds, for example: the number 8 instead of the sound 'eight' in l8r, number 4 instead of 'for', or number 2 instead of 'to' or 'too'. Take a look at these example of contractions:

Plz - Please

Thx - Thanks

Cya - See you

L8r - Later

K - OK

U - You

R - Are

B4 - Before

2morro - Tomorrow

Instant messaging with this kind of language can be great fun but remember to use it appropriately. Don't call your boss 'm8' and don't sign off your emails to clients with 'TTYL'. Use these acronyms and contractions with your friends when you chat with SMS or instant messaging. Use them in moderation, though. If you have to keep explaining what you write to people, it might be faster to use the full word!

Do you want to learn more? 11 Fun English Social Media Abbreviations and their meaning.

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Popular Texting Abbreviations: Acronyms and Contractions | EF English Live

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Whether you use SMS, or an instant messaging app on your smartphone or tablet, you'll have seen some words that just don't look like normal English. even if you knew