This is the greatest research ever conducted on punctuation. Period.
So-called “textisms” -- i.e., emoji, deliberate misspellings (“soooo”) and irregular punctuation (“!!!”) -- are believed to add valuable context to text messages that otherwise lack the subtleties and nonverbal cues (tone, pauses and gestures) of a face-to-face conversation, a recent study in the journal Computers in Human Behavior says.
So the authors, zeroing in on punctuation, found the inclusion of a period can convey negativity. Across three experiments using 10 male and 39 female undergraduate participants, the Binghamton University researchers examined how including or omitting a period in a one-word text response to an invitation -- like “yeah,” “maybe” or “nope” -- affected people’s understanding.
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“We found that if you put a period after those short, one-word responses, the people reading the texts ... understand (it) as being more negative, less enthusiastic, than if they had no period,” co-author Celia Klin told Moneyish. “We’ve agreed that putting a period after a one-word response in a text conveys something like abruptness, annoyance, negativity.”
These findings held true with positive (“yeah” or “yup”), neutral (“maybe” or “alright”) or negative (“nope” or “nah”) responses. Periods, the researchers wrote, “can serve a rhetorical, rather than a grammatical, function in text messages.” And punctuation, in a more general sense, “can convey the types of social and pragmatic information that are communicated with extra-linguistic cues in face-to-face conversations.”
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A key takeaway, according to the authors, is that people have adapted to communicate effectively with whatever tools they have -- as language and technological innovation constantly evolve.
“Language users are clever,” Klin said. “We use what we’ve got.”
As an expert in linguistics and communication, my extensive knowledge in the field allows me to provide a thorough analysis of the article on the impact of punctuation in text messages. Having delved deep into linguistic studies and research, I can confidently discuss the concepts highlighted in the article and offer insights into the nuances of punctuation in modern communication.
The article explores the phenomenon of "textisms," including emojis, deliberate misspellings, and irregular punctuation, which are believed to add valuable context to text messages. The study, published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, focuses specifically on the role of punctuation, particularly the period, in conveying meaning in short, one-word text responses.
The Binghamton University researchers conducted three experiments involving 10 male and 39 female undergraduate participants to examine how the inclusion or omission of a period in a one-word text response to an invitation affected people's understanding. The key finding, as co-author Celia Klin states, is that placing a period after such short responses conveys negativity, abruptness, and annoyance, making the message appear less enthusiastic.
The study emphasizes that the function of periods in text messages is more rhetorical than grammatical. Punctuation, in a broader sense, serves to convey social and pragmatic information that is typically communicated with nonverbal cues in face-to-face conversations, such as tone, pauses, and gestures. This suggests that individuals adapt their communication styles to effectively convey meaning within the constraints of written text.
Regardless of the nature of the one-word response—whether positive, neutral, or negative—the presence of a period consistently influences the perceived tone of the message. The researchers argue that language users are adaptable and resourceful, using available tools to communicate effectively as language and technology evolve.
In summary, the article underscores the significance of punctuation, particularly the period, in shaping the interpretation of text messages. It highlights the adaptability of language users in utilizing punctuation to compensate for the absence of nonverbal cues, ultimately contributing to the ongoing evolution of language and communication in the digital age.
