Socio-Pragmatic Communication Preferences Among Saudi WhatsApp Users: Text Messages vs. Voice Messages

The present study is an investigation into whether different social contexts have an impact on Saudi WhatsApp users’ socio-pragmatic language preferences among different methods of communication, namely voice messages or written messages. A quantitative survey-based method was employed. A questionnaire was designed that presented 12 emotional and non-emotional social situations, to which 485 male and female Saudi WhatsApp users indicated their preferences for messaging mode in which to respond. The results revealed that text messaging was their preferred communication method in a variety of social situations, regardless of whether or not there was emotional intensity in these contexts. Moreover, gender was found to have little effect on the mode of communication across both emotional and non-emotional situations, although females are slightly more likely to use text messages. The study's findings provide insight into Saudis’ language preferences in WhatsApp communication, which can help to improve cross-cultural communications and lead to the development of more successful communication strategies and technologies.