Exploring Tense Inconsistencies and Orthographic Features in Students’ Digital Communication

Ahmad Sidiq

Ahmad Sidiq Program Studi Ilmu Aktuaria, Universitas Pejuang Republik Indonesia

Keywords: Digital Communication, Tense Inconsistencies, Orthography, Social Networking Sites, English Language Learning

Abstract

Digital communication has significantly influenced the linguistic habits of university students, often leading to a departure from formal grammatical norms. This research explores the specific patterns of tense inconsistencies and orthographic features in the online written communication of Indonesian university students on Social Networking Sites (SNS). Using a qualitative descriptive method, the study focused on 10 first-semester students from the Biology Education study program at Universitas Pejuang Republik Indonesia (UPRI) during an online English course. Data were collected through the observation of online group discussions and documentation of chat logs, then analyzed through a process of classifying and interpreting linguistic markers.The findings reveal two primary linguistic phenomena: first, a high frequency of orthographic variations, including intentional misspellings and non-standard capitalization, used to convey tone and speed. Second, a significant prevalence of grammatical errors, specifically the inconsistent use of English tenses, where students struggled to maintain temporal accuracy in their digital discourse. These results suggest that the informal nature of SNS communication, combined with the students' basic language proficiency level, fosters a "stream of consciousness" writing style that prioritizes expression over structural accuracy. This study highlights the importance of understanding these digital linguistic patterns to develop more effective English language teaching strategies for students in non-English majors.

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