Gender differences in the use of linguistic features in chat room

Computer Mediated Communication is an electronic way to communicate with other people by utilizing the internet, such as using email, text messaging, and other social networks. Therefore, the chat room that will be analyzed is The Student Room, an online forum where the students across the world can share and discuss their ideas. This study aims to investigate the linguistic feature that is used in chat room. Also, this study reveals on the gender difference in using those linguistic features.

To get the answer of the research question, the researcher used the theory formulated by Danet (2001) about linguistic feature in digital writing. In doing this study, the researcher used the descriptive qualitative research to be applied on this study. However, the data were collected by taking nine thread representing nine forums as listed. From these nine threads, the researcher directly coded every word that is included as those linguistic features. Therefore, in answering the second research question, the researcher selected the sample of data by taking 5 representatives of men and women for every thread.

The result of this research is there are 8 of 9 linguistic features used in chat room discussion. It comprises multiple punctuation, eccentric spelling, capital letter, description of action, written out laughter, emoticon, abbreviation, and all lower case. There is no asterisk showing to give the stress of a word or a sentence. Further, the second research question provides the result that there are two linguistic features including capital letter, and abbreviations are dominated by men. They used those linguistic features in various form. Therefore, some of linguistic features comprise eccentric spelling, and all lower case are dominated by women. Meanwhile, in the field of multiple punctuation and emoticon, the researcher concludes that between men and women used it equally.

Further research is recommended to investigate another area of CMC whether it is spoken or written conversation such as IRC, email, and etc because in this study has proven the linguistic features in chat room in (BBS) and the gender differences in using those linguistic features.