Abstract:
Text message also referred to as 'text messaging' or 'texting' have become the
preferred mode of interpersonal communication among young people at the turn of
the 20th century (Thurlow 2011). This study aimed at investigating the impact of
SMS/text messages on the acquisition of Standard English writing in Tanzania. The
general objective of this particular study was to explore the distinctive linguistic
features of text messages used by university undergraduate students and their impact
on the acquisition of Standard English writing at higher learning institution in
Tanzania.
In carrying out this study, Communication Accommodation Theory by Giles (1987)
was applied. The area of study was Dodoma Municipality located in Dodoma region
and the focus was on higher learning institutions. This study involved a total of 80
respondents. Gender was considered in the distribution of respondents. Data were
gathered through questionnaire, telephone survey and documentary review. Data
based on questionnaires were analyzed through SPSS (Statistical Package for Social
Sciences) in terms of descriptive statistics. Basically the study employed both
qualitative approach and quantitative approach.
The findings of this study clearly show that text messaging is characterized by both
standard and non standard language, though non standard language seems to be the
greatest feature of students‟ text messages. General effects of text messaging on
acquisition of standard English writing in particular is seen to be as a result of the
nature of text messaging which give rise to more abbreviated language. Hence the
researcher recommends that educational practitioners should stamp out the use of
language by finding effective ways to improve and enable students acquire sensitivity
towards appropriate use of language in a specific situation.
