Original scientific paper

Communication technologies and their influence on language: Reshuffling tenses in Croatian SMS text messaging

Milena Žic Fuchs ; University of Zagreb
Nina Tuđman Vuković ; University of Zagreb

Abstract

SMS text messaging has become one of the most dominant means of communication in
Croatia. With respect to their linguistic features SMS text messages have become a
language variety in their own right, exhibiting specific regularities in different aspects of
language use. We investigate the use of tenses in Croatian SMS text messages in
comparison to standard written Croatian. The results show a different distribution or
reshuffling of past tenses, with a reappearance of tenses considered to be obsolete. We
also look into the reasons that triggered off these changes as well as their impact on the
Croatian tense system.

Keywords

communication technologies; tenses; SMS text messaging; aorist; imperfect

Hrčak ID:

30681

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/30681

Publication date:

22.12.2008.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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