A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LEXICAL FEATURES OF SMS TEXT MESSAGING: A STUDY OF PAKISTANI UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

This study investigates gender-based differences in the use of lexical features in SMS text messaging among Pakistani university students. With the rapid expansion of mobile-mediated communication, SMS has become a significant site for examining informal and innovative language practices influenced by social factors such as gender. Adopting a qualitative and descriptive research design, the study draws data from a purposive sample of 100 university students (50 male and 50 female), aged 21–24, enrolled at the University of the Punjab, Government College University, and the University of Education. A total of 300 SMS messages were collected over three days and analyzed using content analysis within the framework of Computer-Mediated Discourse Analysis (CMDA). The study focuses on four key lexical features: initialisms, clippings, contractions, and letter–number homophones. The findings reveal clear gendered patterns in SMS communication. Male participants showed a higher frequency of initialisms, clippings, and contractions, reflecting a preference for brevity and efficiency. In contrast, female participants used letter–number homophones more frequently, indicating a more expressive and creative texting style. The study concludes that gender plays a significant role in shaping lexical choices in SMS discourse within the Pakistani sociocultural context.