Disentangling the Interactions of EFL Learners' Formative Processes From Normative Practices in “M1 Linguistics” Messenger Group at Ibn Khaldoun University of Tiaret.

Abstract

The study examines the processes of word formation included in the interactions among MI Linguistics EFL students in their Messenger group. In other words, this study classifies word formation processes used by English language learners as they interact via Messenger. This study was conducted by following a mixed-methods approach. First, the quantitative method was based on a questionnaire that was designed and addressed to 60 MA1 EFL students to probe their attitudes towards the word formation processes. Secondly, the qualitative method, which was based on content analysis to classify the existing word formations in Messenger exchanges. The results of this study show that EFL learners of linguistics use several types of word formation processes in their interactions, among which clipping, acronyms, blending in addition to neologisms. Word formation processes have been regarded as effective and positive in framing social contact amongst the students in Messenger All in all, such and other formative processes in other social networking sites in different contexts in Algeria can be promising areas of research.