The Matter of the Medium: Instant Messaging on the Spoken-Written Continuum

Abstract

By Mavris Masterson, German Studies & Marketing

Advisor: Lindsay Preseau

Presentation ID: PM_D29

Abstract: This project seeks to analyze differences between native German speakers' retellings of an exciting personal story through the media of speech, a formal email, and an informal text. There are notable differences between both spoken and written forms of communication and utterances belonging to different genres. However, little research had been done with the addition of the third component of the informal instant message. It is important that this growing method of communication not be ignored as instant messaging increases in popularity and is increasingly used in a wide variety of contexts. Understanding this medium and its specific differences from speech and formal written communication is crucial to its effective utilization.