A Sociolinguistic Study of Varying Level of Formality of Computer Mediated Communication in Pakistan
Hafiz Ahmed Bilal, Saima Mubashra, Farkhanda Akram, Adeel Shahzada

Abstract
During past few decades the influx of technology has structured our everyday communication with entirely new set of linguistic habits. Present study intends to reconnoitre various speech patterns particularly focusing upon varying level of formality, manifesting themselves in CMC via social networking websites and mobile text messages in Pakistani society. It aims at exploring the deep rooted physical, social and behavioural factors in shaping the particular register of social media language used in our multilingual society. To serve the purpose, randomly selected 100 short text messages by various mobile users and 100 wall posts/comments by social media bloggers all belonging to different age, gender, educational groups, were analysed by applying content analysis model. The results thus gathered were expected to highlight the emergence of conversational and less formal style of communication even in relatively formal context. The study will help in developing insight into implicit factors behind explicit and now everyday phenomenon of computer mediated communication.

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