INTRODUCTION
Statement of the problem
Language serves as a rich area of exploration for linguistic researchers, continuously evolving through user expression English, in particular, showcases significant regional variations across the globe For example, British English favors the prepositional phrase "at the weekend," while American English uses "on the weekend." Similarly, Australians refer to "sunnies," which means "sunglasses" in British and American contexts As a cultural element, language is defined as the communication system utilized by people within a specific country or region Thus, both language in general and English specifically reflect the unique linguistic patterns shared by communities with similar communication habits.
Facebook, one of the world's most popular social networks, raises the question of whether its users will develop a new form of English Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, stated that the platform is "helping to define a brand-new language for how people connect." He noted that the existing vocabulary is limited, and by introducing new nouns and verbs, users can express a wider range of ideas and connections As a result, Zuckerberg has encouraged Facebook users to engage in this creative linguistic evolution.
With its extensive reach, Facebook has become a popular platform for Vietnamese learners of English to enhance their language skills through interaction with native speakers Increasingly, Vietnamese users are sharing their thoughts and experiences, creating opportunities for meaningful communication and practice.
1 language (n.d.) In Oxford Advanced Learners‟ Dictionary (8 th ed.) Retrieved from http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/language
I don't know!
Vietnamese Facebook users often express themselves in English to enhance understanding among their audience This raises the question: do they favor Standard English learned in educational institutions, or do they lean towards a more colloquial, created form of English? Unfortunately, existing research has not adequately addressed these inquiries, leaving a gap in our understanding of their linguistic preferences on social media.
Thus, the present study has been carried out to investigate the trendy features of English used by Vietnamese learners of English on the social network Facebook.
Objectives of the study
Facebook statuses and comments exemplify asynchronous communication, where authors and readers engage at different times (Yus, 2011) This contrasts with synchronous communication, as asynchronicity enables users to construct messages selectively (Duthler, 2006), allowing for greater planning, review, and control over their texts compared to real-time chats As a result, asynchronous online communication often adopts a more formal style The study aims to explore these dynamics further.
1) To examine online English writings on Facebook to find out the trendy features of this language when used by Vietnamese learners of English
2) To investigate the degree of formality/ informality followed by Vietnamese learners of English on this social network site.
Research questions
The study aims at seeking answers to the following questions:
1) What are the trendy features of English language used on Facebook by Vietnamese learners of English?
2) What is the degree of formality/ informality of English followed by
Vietnamese learners of English on Facebook?
Significance of the study
This paper explores an under-researched topic on Facebook, focusing on Vietnamese graduates of English The findings aim to provide valuable insights for Vietnamese English learners, teachers, and global Facebook users.
Vietnamese learners of English stand to gain significantly from this study, as it clarifies the distinctions between Facebook English and more formal varieties like academic and business English While Facebook English tends to be informal, academic and business English are characterized by their formality and standardization This understanding will enhance learners' awareness of using appropriate English for various contexts, particularly in formal documents such as reports, business letters, and research papers.
For many Vietnamese undergraduates lacking a solid foundation in English, relying on Facebook English can be detrimental, as it often leads to the unintentional transfer of informal language to academic settings This study highlights the need for Vietnamese English teachers to recognize the unconventional language forms their students may use, which are often perceived as errors By understanding these issues, educators can identify the root causes and develop effective strategies to address them.
The research offers Facebook users valuable insights into the use of English among Vietnamese speakers, enhancing mutual understanding and fostering connections on the platform Additionally, this study serves as a reference for researchers in related fields, encouraging further exploration of the topic.
Scope of the study
A significant portion of Facebook users in Vietnam are under the age of thirty-four, as reported by Vietnam's Youth Magazine in 2012 Additionally, Vietnamese graduates proficient in English tend to engage more on the platform, making users aged twenty-three to thirty-three the ideal participants for this study.
Facebook offers various communication tools for its users, including private and public messaging, status updates, comments, notes, chat, voice, and video calls However, many of these features are challenging to analyze for language use, leading the study to focus solely on statuses and comments Consequently, written English has emerged as a key variable in the research While the study acknowledges the diverse fields within the English language, it specifically examines morphology and syntax—two fundamental components of grammar (Huddleston & Pullum, 2002, p.4) Additionally, punctuation is included in the analysis, given the emphasis on written English.
English encompasses various dialects, including British, American, Australian, and Canadian English The concept of "Global English" remains a topic of debate, necessitating the selection of a Standard English for comparison with usage on platforms like Facebook According to Huddleston and Pullum (2002), Standard English serves as the language for government, education, media, and public discourse In the twenty-first century, Standard English can primarily be categorized into British and American dialects However, this study focuses solely on British English due to its significant influence on the evolution of Global English and the British awareness of the need to monitor its development (Anderman, 2005).
3 30,8 triệu người Việt Nam sử dụng Internet (2012, Oct 19) Retrieved from http://nhipsongso.tuoitre.vn/Nhip-song-so/516689/308-trieu-nguoi-Viet-Nam-su-dung-Internet.html
Design of the study
The study includes three parts:
Part one is the Introduction of the study which states the problem, the research questions, objectives, scope, significance and the design of the whole paper
The Development section is divided into two chapters: the first chapter provides the theoretical background relevant to the topic, while the second chapter outlines the research methodology, including study subjects, data collection tools, and procedures Additionally, it presents the findings through data analysis and results, followed by a comprehensive discussion.
In the conclusion of this investigation, we summarize key findings, highlight the research's contributions, and offer practical recommendations for future studies, while also acknowledging notable limitations.
DEVELOPMENT
Facebook serves as a platform for both verbal and written communication; however, this study focuses specifically on the applications of status updates and comments, highlighting the exploration of written English.
Written language is characterized by a more deliberate and structured approach, often resulting in longer sentences compared to spoken language (Huddleston & Pullum, 2002, p.13) Standard written English is commonly found in modern newspapers, magazines, and books To create clear and effective sentences, writers must have a strong command of grammar, which includes understanding morphology, syntax, and punctuation.
Morphology is the study of word structure (Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech & Svartvik,
Words have an internal structure made up of smaller units known as morphemes For instance, the verb "looked" is composed of the morpheme "look" and the grammatical suffix "-ed." Similarly, the noun "notebook" includes the morphemes "note" and "book," while the adverb "beautifully" consists of "beautiful" and the suffix "-ly."
A word is a distinct linguistic unit that conveys meaning, existing between a morpheme and a phrase in size According to grammatical theories by Quirk et al (1987) and Huddleston (2002), words can be created through various morphological processes.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Written English
Facebook serves as a platform for both verbal and written communication, but this study specifically focuses on the applications of status updates and comments, highlighting the examination of written English.
Written language is characterized by a more deliberate and structured approach, often resulting in longer sentences compared to spoken language (Huddleston & Pullum, 2002, p.13) Standard written English is commonly found in modern newspapers, magazines, and books To craft precise sentences, writers must have a strong command of grammar, which includes understanding morphology, syntax, and punctuation.
Morphology is the study of word structure (Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech & Svartvik,
Words possess an internal structure made up of smaller units known as morphemes For instance, the verb "looked" comprises the morpheme "look" and the grammatical ending "-ed." Similarly, the noun "notebook" is formed from the morphemes "note" and "book," while the adverb "beautifully" consists of "beautiful" and the suffix "-ly."
A word is a distinct linguistic unit that conveys meaning, positioned between a morpheme and a phrase in size According to the grammatical theories of Quirk et al (1987) and Huddleston (2002), words can be created through various morphological processes.
• Affixation – the formation of words by adding a prefix or a suffix to the base, e.g predict, presidential , informal
• Conversion – the word formation process of changing word-classes without affix, e.g import (used as a verb or a noun), abstract (used as a noun or an adjective)
• Compounding – the process of forming words from two or more bases, e.g greenhouse from green and house, desktop from desk and top
Back-formation, also known as back-derivation, is a linguistic process that involves creating a new word by removing a part of an existing word, which can alter its part of speech or meaning For example, the verb "opt" is back-formed from the noun "option." This process highlights the dynamic nature of language and how new terms can evolve from established words.
- Clipping – the formation of a word by shortening but still keeping its meaning and part of speech, e.g phone from telephone, photo from photograph, and flu from influenza
- Acronym – the process of forming a word from its initial letters of a series of words, which is itself pronounced as a word, e.g UNESCO
// (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), NASA / / (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), UNICEF // (The United Nations Children's Fund)
- Initialism – the process of forming a word from its initial letters of several of words or parts of a word, which is itself pronounced letter by letter, e.g
TV // (television), UFO // (Unidentified Flying Object)
• Blending – the word formation from two separate forms, e.g motel from motor and hotel, smog from smoke and fog
• Reduplication – the process of forming words from two or more wither identical or slightly different elements, e.g goody – goody, tick – tock, tip – top
• Coinage – the process of inventing a completely new word, e.g aspirin, heroin, Google, zipper
Borrowing is a linguistic process where words from one language are adopted into another, enriching the vocabulary Examples include "mammoth," derived from Russian, referring to a large, hairy extinct elephant; "gung-ho," originating from Chinese, which describes an excessive enthusiasm for something, often related to conflict; and "tycoon," which denotes a wealthy and powerful businessperson This practice highlights the dynamic nature of language and its ability to evolve through cultural exchange.
Japanese - a person who is successful in business or industry and has become rich and powerful)
Sound imitation refers to the creation of words that mimic the sounds related to the objects or actions they describe Examples include "kiwi," which denotes a flightless bird from New Zealand known for its distinctive call, as well as words like "click" and "clink."
In traditional grammar, words are classified into eight parts of speech: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction and interjection
However, in the theories by Quirk et al (1987, p.18), two more parts of speech are added, namely article and demonstrative
Parts of speech are categorized into two groups: closed-system and open-class Closed-system refers to a fixed set of items that typically cannot be expanded with new members This category includes functional words such as articles (a, an, the), demonstratives (this, that), pronouns (I, you, her, them), prepositions (in, at, on), and conjunctions.
Reciprocally exclusive words, such as conjunctions and interjections, cannot coexist within the same structure, exemplified by the distinction between "a pen" and "the pen," where "the a pen" is incorrect Furthermore, this closed system is reciprocally defining, meaning that the meaning of each individual word is understood in relation to other words within the system.
The significance of a student's third-place finish in a contest can vary greatly depending on the context; for instance, coming third out of four participants carries a different implication than achieving third place among forty competitors.
The open-class group of words is indefinitely extendable and includes notional or lexical terms such as nouns (e.g., Jack, book, work), verbs (e.g., do, have, play), adjectives (e.g., happy, attractive, big), and adverbs (e.g., very, really, quickly).
In the open-class of language, new words can be generated continuously, allowing for the transformation of adjectives into nouns, such as "happiness" from "happy," and verbs into adjectives, like "attractive" from "attract." Furthermore, these parts of speech can be combined with one another and integrated with closed-system elements within a specific structure.
The phrase is the combination of article a, adverb really, adjectives beautiful and
Syntax focuses on how words come together to create phrases and sentences (Huddleston & Pullum, 2002, p.4) Notably, clauses can function as complete sentences or as components of larger sentences; therefore, this paper will concentrate exclusively on phrases and sentences.
As a grammatical unit smaller than a clause,
The term "phrase" is an ancient concept referring to a grammatical unit that generally consists of two or more words, yet it lacks some elements typically found in a complete clause.
4 clause (n.d.) In Oxford Advanced Learners‟ Dictionary (8 th ed.) Retrieved from http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/clause
For example, a noun phrase consists of a noun and its complement, as in the sun, an intelligent student and something new
Since the 1940s, linguists have acknowledged a significantly broader range of phrases than previously recognized This includes various types such as noun phrases (e.g., "a good book"), verb phrases (e.g., "has been looking for the keys"), and adjective phrases.
English phonemes
This paper focuses on the study of written English, particularly in informal contexts such as Facebook On this social networking site, users often incorporate elements of spoken language into their writing, reflecting a blend of casual communication styles.
17 creation of the language related to its system of sound Consequently, the study would review the English phonemes in case of the necessity of data analysis
A phoneme is the smallest sound unit in a language that can differentiate words (Roach, 1998, p.36) The English phonetic alphabet includes twenty-four consonants and twenty vowels, which are illustrated in the following chart.
Bilabial Labiodental Dental Alveolar Plato-alveolar
Table 1 - Chart of English consonant phonemes
Besides the consonants are twenty vowels including five long vowels /, , ,
, /, seven short vowels /, , , , , , / and eight diphthongs /, ,
Long vowels are generally longer in duration than short vowels in comparable contexts A diphthong, which involves a smooth transition from one vowel sound to another, functions similarly to a long simple vowel.
Informal English
Informal English encompasses the everyday language used in casual conversations, characterized by colloquialisms, slang, and non-standard language patterns that often deviate from strict grammatical rules.
Colloquialism, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary, refers to words or phrases commonly used in conversation rather than in formal speech or writing, such as "ain't" (am not), "reckon" (suppose), and "yonder" (over there) Linguists, including Zuckermann (2003), distinguish between colloquialisms and slang, highlighting the nuances in informal language use.
Slang refers to informal (and often transient) lexical items used by a specific social group, for instance teenagers, soldiers, prisoners, or surfers…
Colloquialisms refer to informal lexical items used in everyday speech, distinguishing them from slangisms While slangisms often appear in colloquial speech, not all colloquialisms qualify as slang.
Native speakers are more familiar with colloquialisms, which can be differentiated from slang by consulting updated dictionaries Due to their widespread usage, many colloquialisms have been included in dictionaries, often labeled as informal words.
The study examines the dynamic nature of language on social media, particularly focusing on Facebook usage among Vietnamese users While slang words tend to be ephemeral, the prevalence of non-slang colloquialisms continues to increase This research aims to identify the emergence of both slang and colloquial expressions within this popular social networking platform.
5 colloquialism (n.d.) In Oxford Advanced Learners‟ Dictionary (8 th ed.) Retrieved from http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/colloquialism
Conversations
Most of the time, conversation consists of two or more participants taking turns, and only one participant speaking at any time
It is worth noting that status is posted aiming to report or update something about the Facebook user‟s feelings, emotions or daily activities It can be considered a
„topic-raising‟ statement expecting others‟ feedbacks or in other words, it is the very beginning of a conversation Meanwhile, comment is the application for other
Facebook users to freely give their opinions related the „topic sentence‟ or status, which makes a real successful conversation
Facebook's asynchronous nature allows users to post without time pressure, leading to long pauses between comments This indirect style of communication enables anyone to join the conversation at any time, while the platform's time management prevents overlapping responses However, this free turn-taking often results in adjacency pairs—sequences of related comments—not being contiguous or orderly.
Review of related studies
With spectacular growth and popularization of social networking sites 6 , many studies have been conducted concerning the use of languages on SNSs
In the study "Intercultural Internet Chat and Language Learning: A Socio-Cultural Theory Perspective" by Pasfield-Neofitou (2007), five advanced Australian learners of Japanese engaged in intercultural online conversations with five native Japanese speakers This research highlights the impact of digital communication on language acquisition and cultural exchange, demonstrating how virtual interactions can enhance language skills and foster a deeper understanding of cultural nuances.
6 Social Networking Reaches Nearly One in Four Around the World (2013, June 18) Emarketer Retrieved from http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Social-Networking-Reaches-Nearly-One-Four-Around-
This study explores Japanese-English intercultural Internet chat through the lens of Socio-cultural theory, analyzing ten chat logs collected over a month alongside follow-up interviews The research focuses on various linguistic and interactional features, including turn-taking, language characteristics, and the influence of computer literacy and chat experience The findings highlight the significance of sociocultural factors in shaping language use within the discourse, demonstrating that chat environments facilitate authentic language interactions with native speakers.
Concerning the same issue, Nguyễn, D T T, Nguyễn, T T T & Nguyễn, T T H
(2008) carried out “a study on the impact of @-language on the mother tongue”
The study examines the prevalence of @-language among high school students in Da Nang, Vietnam, revealing that 65.3% of participants are drawn to its novelty, while 49% appreciate the time-saving aspect of abbreviations Additionally, 14.28% use it to stay updated with teenage trends, and 8.16% employ @-language to keep their conversations hidden from parents The findings suggest that this trend may hinder the youth's ability to appreciate and understand the richness of their native language.
In short, both of the two linguistic studies, as many others by Milroy (1987), Young
(2009), Morris, Cunliffe & Prys (2012) and Vũ, N N K (2012)…, mainly target to chat language in the SNSs in general
The emergence of Facebook has sparked interest among researchers in the unique language used within this social networking site Following Mark Zuckerberg's encouragement for users to engage creatively with language, linguists have been motivated to explore the distinctive characteristics of English as it is utilized in this online community.
Pérez-Sabater (2012) conducted a study titled "A Study of Writing Conventions on Facebook" to examine the level of formality in online communication among native and non-native English speakers The research involved a cohort of students from European universities (non-native speakers) and American universities (native speakers), analyzing 300 comments posted on the official Facebook pages of these institutions The study focused on the use of etiquette and protocol in online writing, particularly in terms of salutation and closing, as indicators of orality and informality Findings revealed significant variations in writing styles, indicating that Facebook usage in a university context lacks standardization Notably, non-native speakers tend to communicate more formally than their native counterparts in academic settings on Facebook.
Some other linguists concerning the Facebook language are Ellison, Steinfield & Lampe (2007), Pugh (2010), Blattner & Fiori (2009), Bonds-Raacke & Raacke
(2010), Terantino & Graf (2011), Blattner & Lomicka (2012) and Anwaruddin (2012)…
Despite Vietnam experiencing the highest growth rate of Facebook users at 146% within six months of 2012, there are no studies specifically targeting Vietnamese Facebook users Additionally, most research related to social networking sites (SNSs) by Vietnamese authors is conducted in their native language.
These gaps intensified the significance of the study which aims to investigate the trendy features of English on Facebook pages of Vietnamese graduates of English
7 30,8 triệu người Việt Nam sử dụng Internet (2012, Oct 19) Retrieved from http://nhipsongso.tuoitre.vn/Nhip-song-so/516689/308-trieu-nguoi-Viet-Nam-su-dung-Internet.html
THE STUDY
Methodology
The participants are a cohort of thirty Vietnamese learners of English who have their own Facebook accounts Their average age is 28, with an age range from 23 to
33 All of them are college/ university graduates majoring in English Thus, despite their various proficiency levels of English, the participants are believed to have basic background knowledge of the English language However, the Facebook platform allows users to decide what information about themselves they want to share with others; it is not to change identities but to present the best part of the user to the others (Baron, 2008, p.82) Therefore, the selection of participants is mainly based on the authentic relationship between them and the researcher
The study is conducted mainly on Facebook pages of the participants Its corpus has been collected by the author during 2012 and 2013, comprising 112 statuses and
185 comments posted to the Facebook pages of the Vietnamese graduates of English
This study aims to analyze the English language used on Facebook by Vietnamese graduates, employing a descriptive methodology It utilizes participant observation and unstructured interviews as primary research instruments, supplemented by analytic, comparative, and contrastive methods These approaches help to identify similarities and differences between Facebook English and Standard English Additionally, the X-bar model and tree diagrams serve as linguistic analysis tools in this research.
To achieve the objectives of the study, each observation sheet features a table with six columns: site of information, Facebook user, updated time, content, uncommon language elements, and type of language phenomenon, along with two rows labeled status and comment.
• Site of information – this column is to indicate whether the expressions are observed from status or comment
• Facebook user – name of users on the site
• Updated time – the time when the statuses and comments were posted
• Expressions – what are posted in statuses and comments
• Uncommon language element – this column is to point out whether there is any strange language element in the observed expressions
• Type of language phenomenon – this column aims to sort the uncommon language phenomena found in the observed expressions
To explore the unique uses of English on Facebook, the researcher finds it challenging to fully understand the language phenomena on the platform Consequently, conducting unstructured interviews becomes essential to gather insights from users These interviews resemble brief discussions, typically consisting of one or two questions aimed at clarifying the meanings behind their obscure posts, such as abbreviations like "sr," "plz," and "wassup." Ultimately, these interviews are expected to significantly enhance the completion of the observation sheets.
During this phase, a survey research design was implemented, with the researcher establishing a personal Facebook account to engage actively on the platform Participants were carefully chosen based on specific criteria and subsequently invited to take part in the study.
24 join the researcher‟s friend list Observation sheet was also designed to serve collecting data
Over the course of a year, participants' Facebook pages were systematically monitored to analyze the evolving characteristics of English in their statuses and comments Observational data was meticulously recorded in an observation sheet, and unstructured interviews were occasionally conducted to clarify any linguistic phenomena that were not fully understood.
After that, with the collected findings, the researcher analyzed and synthesized all the data to find out the answer for the two research questions
When discussing free access and privacy, it's essential to note that while these sites offer free access, the study ensures that no genuine private information is disclosed Any personal details in statuses and comments have been altered to maintain privacy, yet they retain similarities to the originals, ensuring the authenticity of the content.
The observation sheet data was utilized to analyze participants' English usage on Facebook Language phenomena collected during the observation were categorized to facilitate the analysis process The findings were then presented in charts, tables, and diagrams Subsequently, the researcher compared and contrasted the English on Facebook pages with Standard English to identify the emerging trends in language use on the platform.
Findings and discussion
In order to seek the answer for the research questions, the study bases on what have been collected through the observation together with the supplement of unstructured interview
This linguistic study focuses exclusively on grammar, specifically examining morphology, syntax, and punctuation Consequently, the collected data is analyzed through these three grammatical lenses.
Morphologically, the findings show that the abbreviated form of expressions and the frequent usage of colloquialisms are the most outstanding linguistic phenomena on the Facebook status and comment
A study revealed that 27 out of 30 participants frequently used abbreviated expressions in their Facebook statuses and comments, with 64% of former and 81% of latter instances featuring such abbreviations Participants employed abbreviated words, phrases, and clauses in various ways, categorized into four groups: Sound-based substitution, Initialism, Clipping, and Sound imitation The preference for each type of abbreviation is illustrated in the accompanying chart.
Figure 1 - The preference of each abbreviated form
The chart indicates that abbreviated expressions are more frequently used in comments than in statuses, with 73% of comments featuring these expressions compared to 56% in statuses This suggests that participants show a stronger preference for sound-based substitutions in their comments.
Vietnamese learners of English infrequently utilize sound imitation for expression shortening, with only 22 out of 185 comments and three statuses reflecting this practice In contrast, initialism is employed in 34% of statuses and 36% of comments, while clipping is used in 41% of statuses and 45% of comments, indicating a similar level of interest among users Overall, regardless of the abbreviation type, Vietnamese learners tend to condense their expressions when writing statuses and comments on Facebook.
This paper analyzes various Facebook statuses and comments to explore existing abbreviations, providing a comprehensive list of these forms The study aims to enhance readers' understanding of this linguistic phenomenon on Facebook, particularly focusing on sound-based substitutions.
This process of forming words has not been mentioned in the previous works
In this study, sound-based substitution refers to the technique of replacing a longer expression with a shorter equivalent, such as a word or letter that closely resembles the original pronunciation Importantly, there is no semantic connection between the substitute and the original expression.
Vietnamese learners of English on Facebook predominantly use sound-based substitution in their statuses and comments, as highlighted in the accompanying table.
Sound – based abbreviation Sound Meaning u // you ur // your urs // yours r // are n // and coz // cause bcoz // because b4 // before wassup // What‟s up
Table 2 - List of Sound-based Substitutes on Facebook
The study reveals that the most commonly used sound-based abbreviations among participants on Facebook are "u," "ur," "urs," and "r." This prevalence may stem from the platform's focus on communication, along with the frequent use of the second-person pronoun "you" and its verb form "are." Examples of statuses and comments featuring these sound-based substitutions illustrate this trend.
- U have changed a lot…or even changed too much…!
- Look!!! U r now too far, too different from ur sound self…
- U also have lost ur sense of self, havent u?!
- I‟m on the way though, do u want to eat anything i‟ll buy for u!
At first glance, these sentences may seem nonsensical; however, when spoken or read silently, their pronunciation reveals their intended meaning By utilizing words that sound similar, Vietnamese learners of English can reduce the character count of their Facebook posts, resulting in less typing time.
Table 3 shows the list of initialisms which are used by Vietnamese learners of English on Facebook status and comment
Initialism Full form bf boyfriend btw/ BTW by the way fb/ FB facebook plz/ pls please sth something sr sorry
Table 3- List of Initialisms on Facebook
To be formed by the initial consonant of each syllable, some initialisms may be referred to different meanings For example, „bf‟ can be understood as „boyfriend‟
29 or „best friend‟… At this time, its semantic meaning plays a really important role to make a successful conversation Take Example 2 for instance
Status : Plz stop any questions about my bf I‟m totally single at the moment Ok?
In a Facebook status, the user employs the initialism "bf," which could initially suggest "best friend." However, the inclusion of the word "single" in the following sentence clarifies that "bf" actually refers to "boyfriend." This shift in context highlights the importance of surrounding words in understanding the intended meaning of abbreviations in social media communication.
The term "single" refers to a person who is alone in the context of romantic relationships, while "bf" typically stands for "boyfriend," not "best friend." Understanding this distinction is essential for engaging in meaningful conversations on platforms like Facebook, where users can provide relevant comments based on the correct interpretation of these terms.
In short, despite the widespread use, initialisms still need to depend on their semantic roles to meet the expected meanings c Clipping
Vietnamese learners often abbreviate words in their Facebook statuses and comments, not only by shortening them based on sounds and initial consonants but also by omitting parts of words A common example is the term "pic," which is a clipped form of "picture." Given the prevalence of images on Facebook (Bonds-Raacke & Raacke, 2008), the use of "pic" has become increasingly common, to the extent that the full word "picture" is rarely seen in posts This trend is illustrated by various statuses and comments from different Facebook users, highlighting the dominance of the abbreviation "pic."
- just a few pics of a small town near the Swiss Alps, …
- just some random pics taken by my iphone
Everything aligned perfectly at the right moment—the flag, the statue, and the wind I couldn't have captured such a stunning image on my own; it truly feels like a divine creation.
- Look at that pic then miss u so much bro Minh Ming!
Other clippings are gathered in Table 4 as follow
Clipping Full form bro brother
Congrats Congratulations pic picture sis sister
Table 4 - List of Clippings on Facebook d Sound imitation
Vietnamese learners of English on Facebook show a low preference for sound imitations in their word formation, with only two notable examples identified in the analyzed statuses and comments: "zzz," indicating sleepiness, and "shhh," used to request silence.
Despite the challenges of poverty and limited interest in sound imitation on Facebook pages, this study highlights the trend of abbreviation usage among Vietnamese learners of English.
Sound imitation Meaning zzz sleeping/ sleepy
Table 5 - List of Sound Imitations on Facebook
CONCLUSION
Limitations of the study
Despite considerable devotion of time and efforts, the study cannot avoid some shortcomings which can be noted as follow
Firstly, if the study had been implemented with more participants in a wider range of age, the results would be more popularized thus more valid
The M.A thesis is limited in scope, concentrating solely on the key components of grammar, including morphology, syntax, and punctuation (Huddleston & Pullum, 2002) Consequently, the research provides only a brief overview of the topic.
In short, the limited time, scope and participants, to some extent, impede the validity of the research.
Suggestions for further study 43 REFERENCES I ENGLISH I VIETNAMESE IV APPENDIX
Other researchers who also delve into the English language on Facebook may further look into the issue from different angles
First of all, if time allows, researchers can investigate other kinds of participants, teenagers or undergraduates, for instance
Numerous researchers, including Clark & Gruba (2010), Morris, Cunliffe & Prys (2012), and Vũ, N N K (2012), have examined the language used by individuals on social networking sites, and ongoing studies are likely to yield intriguing insights.
In addition, apart from status and comment, a further study can be extended to other applications on Facebook such as message, note or chat room
Last but not least, other researchers may concern other fields of linguistics like semantics and pragmatics in order to have a deeper insight into English language used on Facebook
Anderman, G M & Rogers, M (2005) In and Out of English: For Better, for
Worse Great Britain: Cromwell Press Ltd
Anwaruddin, S M (2012) “Learning English in the Age of Facebook” Journal of
Aronoff, Mark (1983) “A decade of morphology and word formation”
Baron, N S (2008): Always on: Language in an Online and Mobile World New
Blattner, G & Lomicka, L (2012) “Facebook-ing and the Social Generation: A
New Era of Language Learning” Alsic Magazine, 15 (1)
Blattner, G & Fiori, M (2009): "Facebook in the Language Classroom: Promises and Possibilities" International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, 6 (1), 17–28
Bonds-Raacke, J & Raacke, J (2010) “MySpace and Facebook: Identifying
Dimensions of Uses and Gratifications for Friend Networking Sites”
Chomsky, N (1970) “Remarks on Nominalization” In: R Jacobs and P
Rosenbaum (eds.), Reading in English Transformational Grammar (pp
Clark and Gruba (2010) explore the impact of social networking sites on foreign language learning through an autoethnographic study of Livemocha Their research is featured in the proceedings of ascilite, edited by Steel, Keppell, Gerbic, and Housego, highlighting the integration of technology in educational curricula for an unpredictable future.
Sydney 2010 (pp.164-173) http://ascilite.org.au/conferences/sydney10/procs/Cclark-full.pdf
Duthler, K., W (2006): "The Politeness of Requests Made via Email and
Voicemail: Support for the Hyperpersonal Model" Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 11 (2), 500 – 521.
Ellsworth, B & Higgins, J A (1997) English grammar simplified Longman
García, I I T (2005) Aphasia and the Theta system Utrecht University.
Huddleston R., Pullum G.K (2002) The Cambridge Grammar of the English language Cambridge University Press
Jackendoff, R (1977) X-bar syntax: a study of phrase structure Cambridge MA:
Kornai, A & Pullum, G K (1990) The X-bar theory of phrase structure US:
Milroy, L (1987) Language and Social Networks (2 nd ed.) Oxford; Basil
Morris, D., Cunliffe, D & Prys, C (2012) “Social networks and minority languages speakers: the use of social networking sites among young people” Sociolinguistic Studies, Vol 6, No 1
Oxford Advanced Learners‟ Dictionary (8 th ed.) (2010) Oxford: Oxford University
Pasfield-Neofitou, S E (2007) “Intercultural internet chat and language learning:
A socio-cultural theory perspective” Learning and Socio-cultural Theory:
Exploring Modern Vygotskian Perspectives International Workshop 2007,
Pugh, J L (2010) A qualitative study of the Facebook social network: The desire to influence, associate, and construct a representative and ideal identity University of California Press
Pérez-Sabater, C ( 2012) “The Linguistics of Social Networking: A Study of
Writing Conventions on Facebook” Linguistik online, 56
Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G & Svartvik, J (1987) A university grammar of
Roach, P (1998) English phonetics and phonology Cambridge University Press
Social Networking Reaches Nearly One in Four Around the World (2013, June 18)
Emarketer Retrieved from http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Social-
Networking-Reaches-Nearly-One-Four-Around-
Terantino, J & Graf, K (2011) “Using Facebook in the Language Classroom as
Part of the Net Generation Curriculum” ACTFL's The Language Educator, Nov 2011, 48-51
Trask, R L (1999) “Key Concepts in Language and Linguistics” In Stockwell, P
(2 nd ed.) (2007) Language and Linguistics: The Key Concepts Oxford,
Young, K (2009) "Online Social Networking: An Australian Perspective"
International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society, 7 (1), 39 –
Yule, G (1996) Pragmatics Oxford: Oxford University Press
Yus, F (2011) Cyberpragmatics: Internet-Mediated Communication in Context
Zimmer, B (2011, September) “The rise of the Zuckerverb: The new language on
Facebook” The Atlantic Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/09/the-rise-of-the- zuckerverb-the-new-language-of-facebook/245897/
Zuckermann, G (2003) Language Contact and Lexical Enrichment in Israeli
I don't know!
Võ Đại Quang (2005) Một số vấn đề cú pháp, ngữ nghĩa, ngữ dụng và âm vị học
NXB Văn hóa Thông tin
Vũ Nguyễn Nam Khuê (2012) Ngôn ngữ của giới trẻ trên các mạng xã hội Thư viện đề tài Nghiên cứu Khoa học Euréka
30,8 triệu người Việt Nam sử dụng Internet (2012, Oct 19) Retrieved from http://nhipsongso.tuoitre.vn/Nhip-song-so/516689/308-trieu-nguoi-Viet-Nam-su-dung-Internet.html