New Media & Society

After mobile phone became popular in Senegal, Africa, language system there were stayed multilingually and flourishingly with French, Wolof and other African Languages. In this study, Lexander(2011) try to show that “African languages are given different roles and values in texting, being used in monolingual messages, in functional code-switching and in mixed code messages” (p.427). Previous studies were more focused on economic and social development with uses of mobile phone, instead of language practices. So Lexander(2011) assumed that “Texting contributes to a higher status for African languages as written languages” (p.428). and it definitely attributed value to African language on texter’s using process.

In this study, Lexander (2011) use interviews (both individuals and focus groups) observations and text-messaging collections to test fifteen young Senegalese, seven women and eight men (p.430). Lexander(2011) aimed to “collect data on particular texts and on SMA in general, on attitudes and identities related to testing and languages, in order to study texting as a social practice, a literacy practice” (p.430). He raised an idea that text messaging influence was not limited in young adults group, it also appears in other groups among our society. I think this is a brand-new and impressive idea for texting messages’ studies, which can broaden my topic research’s field.

To sum up, this study used the example of texting message in Africa to discuss the relationship between literacy and texting messages in a different aspect. I think it helped me to take more unexpected factors into account and enrich materials in my topic.

Lexander, K. (2011). Texting and African language literacy. New Media & Society, 13(2), 427-443. doi:10.1177/1461444810393905