The Use of Textism and Students’ Spelling Ability

Textism, or SMS language, is the abbreviated and informal language often used on digital communication platforms. While textism had gained popularity and efficiency in modern communication, its impact on language skills, particularly spelling abilities among students, had become a subject of interest for researchers. This study explored the relationship between textism and the spelling ability of Junior High School students during the School Year 2022-2023. The study used a descriptive-correlational research design involving 238 students selected through a stratified random sampling method. The data was collected using a Modified-Textism Questionnaire and a Researcher-made Spelling Ability Test. Mean, Standard Deviation, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient were the statistical tools used in the study. Results showed high textism usage regarding shortenings, contractions, clippings, acronyms and initialisms, letter and number homophones, non-conventional spellings, and onomatopoeic spellings. The students’ spelling ability was good, reflecting their mastery of word formation rules and conventions. The study found a significant relationship between contractions, homophones, clippings, and spelling ability, but no correlation was observed for shortenings, acronyms, non-conventional spellings, and onomatopoeic spellings. The study further revealed that heavy reliance on textisms could decrease spelling ability over time. Future studies may investigate additional linguistic aspects of textism, such as syntactic structures or grammar usage, to comprehensively understand its impact on students’ spelling ability.