Positioning Thematic Elements in Text Messages for Effective Communication: A Study of Banks in Ghana.

Abstract

Different lexical elements get chosen at initial positions of text messages that are used in corporate communication contexts. This study explores factors that could provide explanation to the different choices of lexicogrammatical elements in thematic position of text messages by identifying the elements that get chosen and how choice of certain constituents in clauses function in bringing out effectively the meanings that are associated with such choices. To explore the possible implications, a textual analysis was adopted to analyse text messages that banks in Ghana used to communicate a Covid-19 message regarding a mandatory fumigation exercise. Descriptive statistical techniques were applied to the text message in order to uncover the nature and function of elements that constitute Theme in the clauses that make up the text messages. The findings depict that choice of specific items at first position has profound effects on meaning that is encoded by the clauses that constitute the respective text messages. This suggests, possibly, that the differences revealed in choice of specific elements at initial positions of text messages are induced by the particular rhetorical purpose of the communicative act in a specific context. Given that this is so, then corporate entities need to assess their communicative intents in order to effectually compose text messages since linguistic choice in different contexts has significant effects on meaning that is encoded.