SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

Running Head: SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND LANGUAGES

OUMH1203 ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

ASSIGNMENT TITLE : SMS (SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE) IS CORRUPTING

OUR LANGUAGE

Name : Matric number :

Mohd Hussain bin Abdullah

NRIC : 800717126061001

Telephone number : 800717-12-6061

E-mail address : 014-3343554

[email protected]

Tutor’s name : Learning Centre :

Dr. Juliana Othman

Petaling Jaya

Semester :

May 2010

i SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

Abstract

Abbreviation, emoticons, code-mixing, newly created words in short message service usage

increasing tremendously. Some people are worried this will corrupt our language (bahasa

melayu). This phenomena caused by-product limitation (multiple letter assigned to a dozen of

mobile phone) and due to the pressure of reducing communicaton latency. Some references from

aforesaid research was took to collect related data. An SMS guideline in form of pamphlet pub-

lished by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka to reflect with this matter. The pamphlet listed more than

200 words of SMS language because too much concern regarding usage of uncontrolled SMS

language. Since too little information about SMS can corrupt cellular phone user languages, an

simple survey questionnaire were distributed to chosen group of volunteers. Then finding from

survey been concluded as an final result.

ii SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................................. i

Page

TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................... ii

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES ......................................................................................... iii

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 1

2. RELATED RESEARCH ................................................................................................................... 1

3. METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................7

3.1 Data Collection ............................................................................................................................. 7

4. RESEARCH FINDING ..................................................................................................................... 9

5. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................ 10

REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................... 11

iii SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES

Table 3.1 ...................................................................................................................................................... 8

Page

Table 3.2 ...................................................................................................................................................... 8

Figure 1 ........................................................................................................................................................ 3

Figure 2 ........................................................................................................................................................ 5

Figure 3 ........................................................................................................................................................ 6

Figure 4 ........................................................................................................................................................ 9

Figure 5 ...................................................................................................................................................... 10

1 SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

1. Introduction

‘oxox’ officially not accepted as one word. However ‘oxox’ 6acceptable abbreviation used in

Short Messaging Service (SMS) by cellular phone user. Using ‘oxox’ in SMS will translated as

‘hugs and kisses’ Text Messaging (2010). The abbreviation, newly created words, code-

switching, code-mixing and emoticons phenomenon in SMS has been increasing tremendously.

Some people are worried this phenomenon will corrupting our national language (Bahasa

Melayu).

According to article from Wikipedia SMS (2010), SMS is the text communication service

component of mobile communication systems, using standardized communications protocols that

allow the exchange of short text messages between mobile phone devices. In general, SMS are

understood as short text and read on mobile phone screen Ainin Sulaiman & Ali Hussein Saleh

Zolait (2010). The character are limited to 160 and later became the eventual size for regular

SMS, Finn Trosby (2004). The SMS had been developed in the United Kingdom in late 1980.

After well developed, first SMS successfully sent from Neil Papworth of Sema Group (now

Airwide Solutions) using a personal computer to Richard Jarvis of Vodafone using an Orbitel

901 handset. The text of the message was “Happy Christmas” SMS (2010).

In this paper, I present an review of SMS impact to our Bahasa Melayu. I believe SMS should

benefit mobile phone user which were rather than corrupting the language. Based on aforesaid

research, the study did not able to correlate whether SMS language had affected language skill of

SMS user. The research entitled An Exploratory Investigation into The Relationship Between

Text Messaging and Spelling were made specifically to determine whether SMS has affected the

student language. An survey questionnaire distributed to collect required data. The collection of

data then sorted out to be used in conclusion. This is important to elucidate the rationale why

SMS is not corrupting our Bahasa Melayu language.

2. Related Research Few research about the effect of SMS language to mobile phone user language available.

However only few research which truly related for this review were available. Some words from

Bahasa Melayu classic also gave for reference. Then explanation of the SMS impact will be

followed by distributed questionnaires to randomly chosen people. All this will be concluded and

to be explain the rationale behind the SMS impact.


An research article from Donita Massengill Shaw, Carolyn Carlson & Mickey Waxman (2007)

looked over eighty-six students. Over 90% of group students within 18-19 years old involved.

Those involved had been informed about the research objective and voluntarily to participate it.

Data been collected in two format which need students to complete questionnaire and

standardized spelling test which contained 77 words. Through the research, they made an

correlation from participants frequencies wrote text messages, the length of time been spent and

students self-perception of their spelling ability. The data been collected and the conclusion been

made. They agreed which no significant relationship between text messages and students

language skill were found from their research.

Based on the book titled Sejarah Bahasa Melayu by Abdul Rashid Melebek and Amat Juhari

Moain (2006) listed few words in Bahasa Melayu classic which used affix and phoneme. The

example phoneme like ‘w’ have similar phoneme ‘b’ in Bahasa Melayu modern. This can be

seen from the following words:

wulan = bulan

mamawa = membawa

sariwu = seribu

wanyaknya = banyaknya

marwuat = berbuat

wanua = benua

While phoneme ‘m’ in Bahasa Melayu classic have similarity with ‘ng’ in Bahasa Melayu

modern. The example words as followed:

yam = yang

datam = datang

The prefix ‘man’ in Bahasa Melayu classic have similarity with ‘men’ in Bahasa Melayu

modern. This can be proven like:

mangalap = mengelap

mamawa = membawa

The above explanation has shown the development Bahasa Melayu. The changes made to be

adapted as and accepted to standardize national languages. As changes made to fit new


situations, it then accepted and completely has no language corrupting issue been heard.

That adaptation sharing similar process with SMS language. The existence of SMS

abbreviations, substituted word, emoticons are part of form free expression, Philippines

Declares War On Trendy Cyber Slang (2010). It should accepted and supposed to adapted as part

of well developed era.

Based on the article Text Messaging (2010), quoted “ 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 article should then be understood why such

shorten text, abbreviation, emoticons, code-switching and code-mixing exist. The article also listed

some text messaging acronyms and for English languages which used in SMS activity.

2G2BT Too good to be true L8R G8R See you later alligator2MORO Tomorrow LOL Laughed out loud/ Lots of luckATB All the best LTS Laughing to selfBFF Best friends forever LUWAMH Love you with all my heartBRB Be right back MIA Missing in actionBTW By the way NBD No big dealCID Consider it done NSFW Not safe for workCUL8R Call (see) you later OMG Oh my GodCU 2MORO See you tomorrow OTOH On the other handDHYB Don't hold your breath oxox Hugs and kissesDIY Do it yourself PBEM Play by emailETA Estimated time of travel PVP Player versus playerEZ Easy QOTD Quote of the dayFOFL Falling on the floor laughing ROFL Rolling on the floor laughingFYI For your information SHID Slaps head in disgustH&K Hug and kiss SHOF Sense of humour failureHHIS Hanging my head in shame SRO Standing room onlyHTH Hope this help THX or TX ThanksIIRC If I remember correctly TMI Too much informationIMHO In my humble opinion TTFN Ta ta for nowIYSS If you say so TWIMC To whom it may concernJ/K Just kidding UR You areJM2C Just my 2 cents worth WYSIWUG What you see is what you getKOTL Kiss on the lips YYSSW Yeah, yeah, sure, sure, whateverKWIM Know what I mean? zzz Sleeping, bored, tired

Figure 1 : Some English words with suggested acronym to be used in SMS applications.


1Panduan Singkatan Khidmat Pesanan Ringkas (SMS) Bahasa Melayu. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka. 2008. p. vii

Typing ‘LOL’ take less than three second but ‘Laughed Out Loud’ surely accomplished above

that. Why waste time to type word with full letter when shorten up word deliver same meaning?

More words should fit enough to send long text message. I believe typing a single correct letter

should take three or more taps due to multiple letter assigned to each number button on keypad.

This painstaking task accomplished with one or two finger of cellular phone user. Rather than

send cumbersome of full letter text messages, abbreviated words, emoticons should simplified

the SMS typing task. The abbreviated words phenomenon are should be best to SMS function

rather than identified as corrupting languages.

Due to uncontrolled usage of SMS languages, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) has conducted

an seminar entitled ‘Seminar Penyelidikan: Perkembangan dan Pengaruh SMS Terhadap

Bahasa Melayu’ which were held on 19th April 2005. DBP been suggested to publish an usage

guideline to standardize the SMS languages in Bahasa Melayu. An pamphlet had published from

DBP to reflect with SMS languages usage especially when involved with official matter.

“Risalah ini diharapkan dapat dijadikan panduan dalam penulisan SMS yang standard

terutamanya untuk SMS yang digunakan dalam situasi atau urusan rasmi (seperti untuk

menyampaikan maklumat rasmi kepada pihak tertentu, baik kerajaan mahupun swasta).”1

The pamphlet which entitled ‘Panduan Singkatan Khidmat Pesanan Ringkas (SMS) Bahasa

Melayu’ (2008) had divide SMS to three main group which were ‘singkatan nama khas’,

‘singkatan umum’ and ‘singkatan kata serapan’. ‘Singkatan nama khas’ then divided to six styles

of writing method. While ‘singkatan umum’ which had eleven ways of writing method.

‘Singkatan kata serapan’ are absorbed words from Arab languages. It’s had two types of

abbreviations.

Based on the published pamphlet, symbol also can be used for SMS writing. It listed seventeen

symbol for the SMS purpose. Whereas emoticon also been applied in SMS. The applications for

showing whining face or the feeling of SMS sender. Semantics aspect also noted like

homograph, synonym and certain symbol with more than one meaning.

The following were few of words to be used for the purpose of SMS languages in Bahasa

Melayu which took from the pamphlet.


1. Singkatan Nama KhasPerkataan Singkatan Perkataan SingkatanAbdul Abd (Abd Rahman) Gabungan Pelajar-Pelajar

Ahli Mangku Negara AMN Melayu Semenanjung GPMS

Akhbar Dalam Darjah ADD Gunung G (G Kinabalu)

Allahyarham A.yarham atau A.yhm Hajah Hjh (Hjh Zaiton)

Allahyarhamah A.yarhamah atau A.yhmh Haji Hj (Hj Zainal)

Amanah Saham Bumiputera ASB Hijrah H

Amanah Saham Nasional ASN Hospital Hosp (Hosp Tawakkal)

Amerika Syarikat AS Inggeris Ing

Asia Tenggara AT Institut Inst (Inst Aminudin Baki)

Asia-Afrika AA Institut Jantung Negara IJN

Bachelor of Science Institut Kemahiran MARA IKM

(Sarjana Muda Sains) BSc Institut Terjemahan Negara

Badan Pencegah Rasuah BPR Malaysia ITNM

Barat Laut BL Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli JHEOA

Batang Btg (Btg Berjuntai) Jabatan Kerja Raya JKR

Batu B (B Pahat) atau Bt (Bt 3, ShahAlam) Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara JPN

Belanda Bld Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan JPJ

Brigedier Brig (Brig-Jen = Brigedier-Jeneral) Jabatan Perdana Menteri JPM

Bukit Bkt (Bkt Cina) Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam JPA

Bursa Saham Kuala Lumpur BSKL Jaksa Pendamai JP

Dasar Ekonomi Baru DEB Jalan Jln (Jln Raja Laut)

Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka DBP Januari Jan

Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur DBKL Jawatankuasa Kemajuan

Dewan Perniagaan dan Kampung JKK

Perusahaan Melayu Malaysia DPPMM Jawatankuasa Olimpik

Doktor Dr (Dr Zamri) Antarabangsa JOA

Duli Yang Maha Mulia DYMM Johan Mangku Negara JMN

Encik En (En Syazwan) Johan Setia Mahkota JSM

Fahrenheit F Johor Bahru JB

Februari Feb Kampung Kg (Kg Baru)

Gabungan Pelajar-Pelajar Islam Kapten Kapt (Kapt Zamri)

Malaysia GPIM Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar KDNK

Figure 2 : Some Bahasa Melayu in ‘Singkatan Nama Khas’ words which had been abbreviated for the purpose of SMS application. ‘Perkataan’ for the full letter of word and ‘Singkatan’ for used in SMS abbreviation.


2. Singkatan UmumPerkataan Singkatan Perkataan Singkatanadik adk atau dik datang dtgalaihissalam as datuk tukassalamualaikum askm dekat dktatas ats dengan dgnatas nama a.n dengar dgrawak awk depan dpnawal awl duduk ddkayah ayh dulu dlayam aym electronic mail (mel elektronik) e-melbagi bg gigabait gbbahagian bhg gram gmbahasa bhs halaman hlm atau hal.baju bj halang hlgbalak blk hari hrbangun bgn hari bulan hbbapak bpk atau pak hektogram (100 gram) hgbatang btg hektometer hmberat brt hidup hdpbila bl hospital hospbilangan bil. inci inbinti bt ini nibodoh bdh institut instbukan bkn itu tubuku bk jadi jdbulan bln jalan jlndalam dlm jangan jgndan lain-lain dll jawatankuasa (ahli jawatankuasa) jk (ajk)dan sebagainya dsb kad pengenalan kpdan seterusnya dst kampung kgdapat dpt kapal kpldari dr kasih kshdaripada drpd kawan kwn

Figure 3 : Some Bahasa Melayu words for ‘Singkatan Umum’ which had been abbreviated for the purpose of SMS application. ‘Perkataan’ for the full letter of word and ‘Singkatan’ for used in SMS abbreviation.


3. Methodology

Some survey based on simple questionnaire are distributed to chosen group of peoples. It

conducted over four weeks of period with using self-distrubution method. The method was

chosen to enable quick, inexpensive, efficient and accurate means of collecting required datas.

Distrubuted questionnaires were based on Hand Phone User Survey 2008 data. It stated the

highest number largely comes from ‘20-49’ age group which covered more than 60% of mobile

phone user in Malaysia. Selangor becomes largest user which contributes 22% to the statistic.

While SMS usage rate showed 50.7% reported an average 5 SMS per day Hand Phone User

Survey (2008).

Thirty set of survey questionnaire papers were collected to gathered data. The participants had

been informed about the purpose of survey. Participants were asked to complete four section of

survey questionnaire paper. Section A was designed to gather general background of volunteers.

This are to analyze between volunteer typical age group, gender, ethnic, working status and their

text messaging behavior. Section B to determine their SMS activities by circling one from three

appropriate given option. While Section C to determined how participants shorten up given

words in three languages version. The versions which required participants to shorten up selected

words in mother tongue, Bahasa Melayu and English languages. Last section required respondent

to choose between agree and disagree if shortening up words will corrupt respondent language.

Whereas optional section are asked their own opinion why they agree or disagree in last section

of questionnaire paper.

3.1 Data Collection

Data were collected by provide the volunteer with list of general statement. Section B

questions were listed as Table 1 below. The questions created to determined SMS user behavior.

Only one from three option of answer to be select by respondent.

Section C listed seven general sentences which required the participants to shorten it on their

own style. Shorten up words in mother tongue languages would relate SMS user with rates of

frequency using abbreviated words.

Section D required respondent to agree or disagree whether SMS will corrupt user languages.

Only ‘yes’ and ‘no’ option were given to respondent.


Table 3.1. List of questions in Section B for survey questionnaire.

1 Yes No Not Applicable2 Yes No Not Applicable3 Yes No Not Applicable

4 Yes No Not Applicable5 Yes No Not Applicable6 Yes No Not Applicable7 Yes No Not Applicable89 Yes No Not Applicablea.10 Yes No Not ApplicableWill SMS help to revive your mother tongue language?

Do you have a phone (mobile phone)?Do you SMS?When you used SMS, did you shorten up the words, abbreviate the words or chunk the words?Did you shorten up Bahasa Melayu words in your SMS?Did you shorten up Mother tongue words in SMS?Did you shorten up English words in SMS?Did you SMS in other language(s)?If Yes, name the language(s)………………………………Did you mix up more than one language in your SMS?If Yes, name the language(s)………………………………

Table 3.2. Selected expressions in Section C which required to shorten up by respondent.

Expressions Mother tongue Bahasa EnglishHow are you?Good morningI will call youBreakfastI love youDo you want to come with me?He had an accident last night.

Section D which required volunteer to circle only one option only.

“Do you think shortening up words in SMS corrupt your language? Yes or No”


4. Research Finding From the table above, result for section B of questionnaires were presented by chart. This was

to simplified the viewing method of research finding result. Based on Figure 4, X axis are using

F1, F2, F3 until F10 which represent question number 1, number 2, number 3 until number 10

respectively.

Result of SMS Activities over 30 volunteers in Section B survey questionnaire.

Figure 4 : Result from survey questionnaire paper on Section B. The X axis represent each given statement. Y axis measure the total of respondent whether they choose to said ‘YES’, ‘NO’ or ‘NOT APPLICABLE’ on each statement.

Overview for Section C result are available as per attachment. While overview result from section D were presented in form of pie chart figure. Blue and red colour for ‘yes’ and ‘no’ option respectively. The result found with majority of respondent to choose ‘no’ option.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

F 1 F 2 F 3 F 4 F 5 F 6 F 7 F 8 F 9 F 10

Yes

No

Not Applicable


Figure 5 : Result for Section D of survey questionnaire paper. Stated number were represent an each of volunteer.

5. Conclusion

The result from research survey conducted to gather required data. Twenty eight from thirty of

respondents did not agree regarding shortening up words in SMS will corrupt their languages.

From this, I believe SMS not corrupting our language since abbreviation, acronym and

emoticons were intended for SMS activities only. This phenomenon expected to had steady

increase as time goes by, pressure on reducing communication latency, multiple letter assigned

to dozen button on mobile phone keypad and other reason. Although there was no significant

relationship which can be used to relate, more study should be made with more appropriate

approach method. The crucial need to proper method which degree of certainty, possibility or

probability will gave trusted results.

2

28

Result from 30 participants in Section D of survey questionnaire paper. The question "Do you think shortening up words in SMS

corrupt your language?"

Yes

No


References

Abdul Rashid Melebek & Amat Juhari Moain. (2006). Sejarah Bahasa Melayu. Kuala Lumpur:

Utusan Publication & Distributor Sdn Bhd.

Ainin Sulaiman & Ali Hussein Saleh Zolait. (2010). International Journal of Technology

Diffusion. Adoption of Short Messaging Service (SMS) in Malaysia. 1(1), 41-51.

Donita Massengill Shaw, Carolyn Carlson & Mickey Waxman. (2007). New England Reading

Association Journal. An Exploratory Investigation into The Relationship Between Text

Messaging and Spelling, 43(1), 57. In ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (OUM Digital

Collection).

Finn Trosby. (2004). Telektronikk. SMS, the strange duckling of GSM, 3. [Online]. Available:

http://www.telenor.com/en/innovation/research/publications/telektronikk/volume/3-

2004.jsp. [2010, June 17].

Malaysia. Bahagian Penyelidikan Bahasa. Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka. (2008). Panduan

Singkatan Khidmat Pesanan Ringkas (SMS) Bahasa Melayu. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan

Bahasa Dan Pustaka.

Malaysia. Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia. (2008). Hand Phone Users

Survey 2008. Selangor: Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

Philippines Declares War On Trendy Cyber Slang. (2010, June19/20). Jakarta Globe.

SMS. (2010). [Online]. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS. [2010, June 10].

Text Messaging. (2010). [Online]. In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Available: http://www.-

britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1099476/text-messaging. [2010, June 18].

SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

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