bstract
he language used in communication is affected by different social factors. People speak differently when they talk to other people with different age, gender, or class. In Face to Face (FtF) interactions, social factors determined the language choice; vocabulary, grammar, and even pronunciation. Like in FtF communication, social factors also have a great role in Computer Mediated Communication (CMC). However, unlike in FtF communication, in CMC the language choice decision can be observed from the pauses and revisions during a conversation.his study attempted to find the social factors affecting the language use in CMC environment. Six participants, students of the English Department of Satya Wacana Christian University, participated in this study. he data was collected using Stimulated Recall Protocol (SRP) method. he participants were asked to conduct online chats and the screen of their conversations were video recorded using Cam Studio software. After a chat session, the participant was interviewed focusing on the pauses and revisions in the conversation. he result of the interview was recorded and transcribed. he data analyses suggested that age, gender, and class affect the way the participants communicated with their peers. It was also observed that intercultural and intracultural aspects were involved in the interactions.
