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Definitions

Contact Information

Email Jennifer Chien

Email Thomas Grano

Email Professor
Richard Holeton

Survey

I conducted a survey of 51 random Stanford undergraduates who use instant messaging at least some of the time. Here is a break-down of their frequency of of use:

37-several times a day
9-several times a week
2-several times a month
3-rarely

They were asked to rate how often they used the following conventions in their IM conversations on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being always and 5 being never. They were then asked to rate their attitude toward these same conventions on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being that the convention was highly acceptable and 5 being that it was highly bothersome.

Here are the results:

Use				Attitude
:-)	1.96	u	3.88	:-)	1.43	u	3.04
brb	2.67	i c	4.31	brb	1.47	g2g	3.33
ttyl	3.02	4	4.63	j/k	1.65	i c	3.49
j/k	3.18	g2g	4.69	b/c	1.78	4	3.51
lol	3.43	wuz	4.86	ttyl	1.86	l8r	4.06
b/c	3.61	l8r	4.90	lol	1.88	wuz	4.08
cuz	3.84	n e	4.92	cuz	2.78	n e	4.16

Click here for definitions.

Characteristics of conventions:

:-), brb, ttyl, j/k, lol
-abbreviated substantially
-convey something that would not need to be conveyed in face-to-face interactions
-used in situations where brevity is necessary

b/c
-already an established abbreviation before the advent of the Internet

cuz, u, g2g, i c, 4
-somewhat abbreviated
-do not attempt to correct any specific shortcoming of CMC

wuz, l8rm n e
-little or not at all abbreviated
-do not attempt to correct any specific shortcoming of CMC

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