ANALYZING PRAGMATIC MEANING IN TEXT MESSAGING AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Abstract

Abstract: In the digital age, communication has increasingly shifted from face-to-face interactions to written exchanges through text messaging and social media platforms. This study explores how pragmatic meaning—meaning derived from context, intention, and social norms—is constructed and interpreted in these digital environments. Unlike traditional spoken discourse, text-based communication often lacks vocal tone, facial expressions, and immediate feedback, which are typically essential for conveying implicature, politeness, humor, and other pragmatic elements. The study examines how users compensate for these limitations through the use of emojis, abbreviations, punctuation, code-switching, and discourse markers.