Abstract

GIRALDO GIRALDO, Camilo; RIOS LONDONO, Dora Miryam  and  CARDONA CIFUENTES, Fabio Andrés. The grammar in the margins of the norm: the writing in WhatsApp. Leng. [online]. 2018, vol.46, n.2, pp.311-333. ISSN 0120-3479.  https://doi.org/10.25100/lenguaje.v46i2.6585.

Writing and grammar transform and adapt themselves according to cultural and technological development. The objective of this empirical study is to characterize WhatsApp writing and show that it exhibits a grammar which is different from that of the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language. A survey and interviews were administered to 208 male and female students, aged 17-25, who were enrolled at four universities (2 private and 2 public institutions). The data, which comprised WhatsApp screenshot dialogues, was collected for further analysis. The findings show that 57% of the participants expressed that they follow established grammar rules and 76% stated that WhatsApp writing must respect established grammar. However, in what seems to be a contradiction, 75% of the participants indicated that it is unnecessary to comply with grammar regulations, 43% said that they do not follow rules, and 46% said that it is not easy to follow grammar rules in WhatsApp writing. It is concluded that WhatsApp writing and -therefore, WhatsApp grammar- is a daily-life activity that follows its own path, aside from the grammar formalities of the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language.

Keywords : normative grammar; pragmalinguistics; WhatsApp.

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