How do Spanish speakers use abbreviations in informal texting

Spanish speakers use abbreviations in informal texting to enhance efficiency, express identity, and maintain informality. Common practices include shortening words, omitting vowels, and using acronyms or initialisms, often influenced by pronunciation and ease of typing. Examples include abbreviations like “q” for “que” (that), “tmb” for “también” (also), and “xq” for “por qué” (why). Abbreviations may also combine numbers and letters, such as “k” for “que” or “x” for “por,” reflecting phonetic shortcuts. These abbreviations serve not only to save time but also to create social bonding and express familiarity among peers in informal contexts like WhatsApp or social media chats. The use of emoticons and slang terms often accompanies abbreviations to enrich communication with emotional tone and cultural nuances. This linguistic practice is dynamic and can vary regionally or by social group, reflecting a creative and context-sensitive adaptation of language to digital communication environments. ^{1, 15}

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