Have you ever noticed that you speak differently depending on where you are? I realised this recently when I was texting my friends and simultaneously preparing for a debate competition. Even though we were discussing the same topics, the way I used language to converse was completely different.

The Language of Group Chats

In group chats, most people use short forms like “lol”, “idk” and “brb”. We also don’t pay much attention to grammar or punctuation because at the moment our goal is to respond and express quickly to keep the conversation going. Sometimes, a single emoji can symbolise a whole response.

Emojis: A Language of Their Own

Speaking of emojis, their meanings have changed a lot over time. For example, through the gap in generations, the crying emoji 😭 is often used by millennials to actually display sad emotions; however, people close to my age use it when something is really helplessly funny rather than sad. The skull emoji 💀 is also commonly used by us to show that something is hilarious. These meanings are understood by many teenagers as our own language, but older people may find them confusing as they signify completely different meanings for them.

From Chats to Debates

On the other hand, when we come to formal speaking, such as debates, they require a very different style of communication. When speaking in front of an audience, we try to use proper vocabulary, tone and complete sentences that help get our point across more clearly without leaving things to interpretation.

Language and Audience

I think the biggest reason for this change is the audience. The way we talk to our friends is naturally more relaxed because they understand us and our way of speaking, while in a formal setting, many times it is someone who doesn’t know you well or is hearing you for the first time. Here, you try to be exact about your thoughts. Without even noticing it, this shows how we adjust our language to suit the situation.

Communication Beyond Words

Overall, I find it interesting how we change the way we communicate every day. Whether it is through group chats, emojis or debate speeches, language is always adapting. It shows that communication is not just about what we say, but also about who we are speaking to.

I’ve also made a few small grammatical and punctuation corrections while keeping the student’s original ideas, examples and overall voice intact.