Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026), Articles
Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026)

LINGUISTIC FEATURES OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATION: PRAGMATICS OF EMOJI AND TEXT SHORTENING IN ACADEMIC VS. CASUAL DISCOURSE

Articles
Published 2026-06-05
Nasimova Khilola Zoir kizi
Master's student of the MA TESOL program, Webster University (branch in Samarkand)
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Keywords

digital communication, pragmatics, emoji, text shortening, academic discourse, casual communication, computer-mediated communication, linguistic economy.

Abstract

This academic article investigates the linguistic characteristics of digital communication from a pragmatic perspective. It offers a synchronous and comparative analysis of emoji usage and text shortening (textisms) across both casual and academic discourses. Viewed through the lens of computer-mediated communication theories, the paper explores the compensatory nature of paralingvistik tools, specifically how they substitute for facial expressions and vocal intonation in digital spaces. Furthermore, it examines the pragmatic functions of emojis in modifying illocutionary force, managing emotional tone, and operating polysemously, while also analyzing text shortening relative to George Zipfs principle of linguistic economy. Functional discrepancies between academic and casual interactions, code-switching behaviors, and the role of socio-cultural contexts in determining pragmatic appropriateness are thoroughly substantiated using established, authentic international literature.

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