Word formation used in Text Messages (TM) in Netlingo

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on Word Formation of Text Messaging(TM) in Netlingo. The writer is interested in observing TM which is usually used in SMS and internet networking by using Yule as the main theory and Fromkin, Plag, Atchison as the supporting theory. The writer is eager to find out the types of word formation applied in TM and the type, which mostly occurs in TM.

To conduct this study the writer uses a descriptive qualitative approach in conducting this research because the data of it are in the form of text. Therefore, she has to describe it first in order to get clearer description of the data. Then, it helps the researcher in interpreting and giving report of the findings. The writer uses documentation strategy in collecting data because the data of this research is in the form of written TM, which is available in net website that is www.netlingo.com. This study only analyze the TM in the form of words, numeral, and some symbols even in the net lingo is available another forms such as smiley’s and emoticon which consist mostly of punctuation marks. Thus, it gives the limitation of the study preventing the biases discussion.

From the 1992 collected data, the researcher found that there are eleven types of WF used in TM. Eight of them are clipping (0.7 %), blending (0.05 %), borrowing (0.1 %), y- diminutives (0.05 %), abbreviation (0.85 %), multiple processes(7.4 %), and acronym proposed by those theories above. While, onomatopoeia (0.25 %) is pointed out by O’ Grady & Guzman. The three types left are phonetic respelling (0.9 %), letter and number homophones(1.65 %), and symbol expression(0.25 %) are considered as the new types of TM proposed by another expert stated above. Moreover, the acronym is the most frequently type of WF found in TM (84.1 %).