Features of Text Messages

Question 1

‘You do owe me another £20 by the way! Cash would be luuuuuuveeerrrly.’

Answer 1

The exclamative is a happy reminder that they want the money while at the same time, stressing the fact that they need the money. The way they’ve said ‘luuuurveeerrrly’ softens the reminder that the person they’re talking to owes money.

Question 2

‘No jam no cpb’

Answer 2

Abbrievated phrase displays shared context and also displays that the short reply is because they’re busy doing something else (in this case shopping)

Question 3

‘Actually want the quickest of nips into women’s clothing - see you there.’

Answer 3

The use of the superlative ‘quickest’ is used to reassure the person receiving the text that they won’t be long. ‘see you there’ closes the conversation but also reminds us that texts are instant.

Question 4

‘Toilet just past Levi’s’

Answer 4

The elliptical phrase displays that the person sending the text is busy (shopping).