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 : Mohd Hussain bin Abdullah

Matric number : 800717126061001
NRIC : 800717-12-6061
Telephone number : 014-3343554
E-mail address : mdhussainabdullah@gmail.com

Tutor’s name : Dr. Juliana Othman

Learning Centre : 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

Page

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

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

Page

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

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.
2 SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

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
3 SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

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 alligator
2MORO Tomorrow LOL Laughed out loud/ Lots of luck
ATB All the be st LTS Laughing to self
BFF Best friends forever LUWAMH Love you with all my heart
BRB Be right back MIA Missing in action
BTW By the way NBD No big deal
CID Consider it done NSFW Not safe for work
CUL8R Call (see) you later OMG Oh my God
CU 2MORO See you tomorrow OTOH On the other hand
DHYB Don't hold your breath oxox Hugs and kisses
DIY Do it yourself PBEM Play by email
ETA Estimated time of travel PVP Player versus player
EZ Easy QOTD Quote of the day
FOFL Falling on the floor laughing ROFL Rolling on the floor laughing
FYI For your information SHID Slaps head in disgust
H&K Hug and kiss SHOF Sense of humour failure
HHIS Hanging my head in shame SRO Standing room only
HTH Hope this help THX or TX Thanks
IIRC If I remember correctly TMI Too m uch information
IMHO In my humble opi nion TTFN Ta ta for now
IYSS If you say so TWIMC To whom it may concern
J/K Just kidding UR You are
JM2C Just my 2 cents worth WYSIWUG What you see is what you get
KOTL Kiss on the lips YYSSW Yeah, yeah, sure, sure, whatever
KWIM Know what I mean? zzz Sleeping, bored, tired

Figure 1 : Some English words with suggested acronym to be used in SMS applications.
4 SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

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
Panduan Singkatan Khidmat Pesanan Ringkas (SMS) Bahasa Melayu. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan
Bahasa Dan Pustaka. 2008. p. vii
 5 SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

1. Singkatan Nama Khas

Perkataan Singkatan Perkataan Singkatan
Abdul 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.
 6 SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

2. Singkatan Umum
Perkataan Singkatan Perkataan Singkatan
adik adk atau dik datang dtg
alaihissalam as datuk tuk
assalamualaikum askm dekat dkt
atas ats dengan dgn
atas nama a.n dengar dgr
awak awk depan dpn
awal awl duduk ddk
ayah ayh dulu dl
ayam aym electronic mail (mel elektronik) e-mel
bagi bg gigabait gb
bahagian bhg gram gm
bahasa bhs halaman hlm atau hal.
baju bj halang hlg
balak blk hari hr
bangun bgn hari bulan hb
bapak bpk atau pak hektogram (100 gram) hg
batang btg hektometer hm
berat brt hidup hdp
bila bl hospital hosp
bilangan bil. inci in
binti bt ini ni
bodoh bdh institut inst
bukan bkn itu tu
buku bk jadi jd
bulan bln jalan jln
dalam dlm jangan jgn
dan lain-lain dll jawatankuasa (ahli jawatankuasa) jk (ajk)
dan sebagainya dsb kad pengenalan kp
dan seterusnya dst kampung kg
dapat dpt kapal kpl
dari dr kasih ksh
daripada 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.
7 SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

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.
8 SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

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

1 Do you have a phone (mobile phone)? Yes No Not Applicable
2 Do you SMS? Yes No Not Applicable
3 When you used SMS, did you shorten up the words, Yes No Not Applicable
abbreviate the words or chunk the words?
4 Did you shorten up Bahasa Melayu words in your SMS? Yes No Not Applicable
5 Did you shorten up Mother tongue words in SMS? Yes No Not Applicable
6 Did you shorten up English words in SMS? Yes No Not Applicable
7 Did you SMS in other language(s)? Yes No Not Applicable
8 If Yes, name the language(s)………………………………
9 Did you mix up more than one language in your SMS? Yes No Not Applicable
a. If Yes, name the language(s)………………………………
10 Will SMS help to revive your mother tongue language? Yes No Not Applicable

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

Expressions Mother tongue Bahasa English
How are you?
Good morning
I will call you
Breakfast
I love you
Do 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”
9 SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

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.

35

30

25

20
Yes

15 No
Not Applicable
10

0
F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F 10

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.
10 SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

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

28

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.
11 SMS IS CORRUPTING OUR LANGUAGE

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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-

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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].

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