Jejemon: A Language Evolved in Texting

In the modern society where everything is made easy, we can’t deny the fact that the way of communication has also improved and just a click away. Every person now a days can be kept in touched through different means like social media and even through texting. Along with these innovations, the way of expression of people has also developed into not just simple and typical languages.

In the article entitled “Is texting killing the English Language?” by John McWhorter, issues pertaining to texting have been discussed and the author took a stand as to the effect of texting to the English language. More so, the author regarded texting simply as talking with the fingers.

As one critic said, texting is the penmanship of the illiterates. The reason points to the way people compose their messages which deviates the conventions of the normal language. Many would argue that texting or instant messaging has to cope with the speed of conversation. Hence, it is dubbed as a new kind of talking that involves economy, spontaneity, and even vulgarity.

Where there is a little attention paid to the capitalization, punctuation, and even to the grammar itself, texting is developing its own kind of grammar and conventions. Take for instance, the word LOL which means “laughing out loud”. But this definition goes beyond the literal meaning. This expression is commonly used to ease tension, show empathy, and sense of equality between texters. Eventually, attitude is also conveyed with the expressions used, not just by means of emoticons.

There are definitely special codes for texting, but this doesn’t just limit to the abbreviations that are familiar with like “wun” for “where u now?”, “wud” for “what ur doing”, “wuk” for “who u katext?”, and etc. In the Philippines which is considered as the “Texting Capital of the World” with one billion text messages sent daily, there is another creative language that has evolved in texting. This has been called as “Jejemon”.

Jejemon (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈdʒɛdʒɛmon]) is a pop culture phenomenon in the Philippines. According to Urban Dictionary, a Jejemon is a person "who has managed to subvert the English language to the point of incomprehensibility." Moreover, jejemon is anyone with a low tolerance in correct punctuation, syntax and grammar. They are usually hated or hunted down by Jejebusters or the grammar nazi to eradicate their grammatical ways.

For instance (On AIM or YM):

miSzMaldiTahh111: EoW pFuOh! (Hello po.)

You: Huh?

miszMaldiTahh111: i LLyK tO knOw moR3 bOut u, PwfoH. crE 2 t3ll mE yur N@me? jejejejeje! (I like to know more about you po, care to tell me your name? hehehe...)

You: You are a jejemon! Don't talk to me, you uneducated retard!

miszMaldiTahh111: T_T


The jejemon phenomenon is rampant especially with a number of users from the young generation. As experienced in the classroom set up, it is turning into a serious problem having the students’ use the jejemon even in writing their essays and narratives. The conventions of the language which includes the spelling not just in English, but also in Filipino have been deviated. With this circumstance, the communication skill of the students especially in writing is at risk. It is then a great challenge for teachers to come up with strategies that would regulate the practice of jejemon which is detrimental to the use of languages such as English and Filipino.

Aside from the effect of jejemon to the communication skill, it also sets a frame to the identity of its users. Jejemon serves as a name given to people not just to refer to the users of the said language, but also to name people with low tolerance of the conventions of the normal language. Unfortunately, the nicknaming embodies negative attributes to its users saying that they are uneducated or illiterate.

It is really alarming how jejemon sets a frame between the users and the people against it (jejebusters and grammar nazi). This is where the relationship starts and often develops; framing jejemons as inferior members of the society in which the fact, that the creativity of their imagination puts them into this kind of undesirable situation. Consequently, this is a matter of serious concern especially in schools.