Past the simple orthographic choices about how the text looks, the way that the "speech" comes across on the page is also mediated by the way that Tumblr users express themselves.
A) Run-on sentences
One of the hallmark signifiers of tumblr text posts is their odd phrasing and stream-of-consciousness-style narration. This can create a particularly unique tone and level of perceived sincerity to the text, as if the creator is genuinely just speaking out loud to the reader, having a one-on-one conversation.
In that first post on the left, in both the original post and in the response, there is a notable lack of apostrophes, commas, and periods. This stylistic choice seems to closely mimic most text conversations I have on my phone and in online messenger apps, creating an informal and conversational tone, as if the text is not only being spoken aloud but it’s also being spoken among friends.
This can be interpreted in a variety of ways, but one way to view it is through the lens of Tumblr being a perceived community. Since content is public on the site unless blogs are set to private (a rather rare thing in my experience), there is an openness in communicating, as if all users are equals or friends with something in common. By being a participant on the site who understands the methods of communication, you are instantly privileged to interact with one another in personal, informal ways.
In the other post, on the right, not only is there no punctuation, the style is completely stream-of-consciousness. The tone, silly but a little bit playfully serious, reminds me of late-night talks at sleepovers where we would wonder about ridiculous things without pausing for breath.
Tumblr feels like that sometimes, like a strange slumber party where nothing is off limits, everything is informal, and everyone is a little bit sleep-deprived.
This can be interpreted in a variety of ways, but one way to view it is through the lens of Tumblr being a perceived community. Since content is public on the site unless blogs are set to private (a rather rare thing in my experience), there is an openness in communicating, as if all users are equals or friends with something in common. By being a participant on the site who understands the methods of communication, you are instantly privileged to interact with one another in personal, informal ways.
In the other post, on the right, not only is there no punctuation, the style is completely stream-of-consciousness. The tone, silly but a little bit playfully serious, reminds me of late-night talks at sleepovers where we would wonder about ridiculous things without pausing for breath.
Tumblr feels like that sometimes, like a strange slumber party where nothing is off limits, everything is informal, and everyone is a little bit sleep-deprived.
B) Phrasing
Tumblr is a strange place sometimes and the users seem to love phrasing things strangely to stand out.
On the right, “Oranged juice” could be interpreted as a typo if not for the capitalization that is added to the word. This unique (or bizarre, based on point of view,) style of expression serves as an opportunity to exercise a particular level of creativity in meaning creation.
On the right, “Oranged juice” could be interpreted as a typo if not for the capitalization that is added to the word. This unique (or bizarre, based on point of view,) style of expression serves as an opportunity to exercise a particular level of creativity in meaning creation.
These two examples above are so over-the-top in their phrasing, between calling sour-coating on candy “pain salt” and in calling someone a walnut as an insult, that they seem almost Shakespearean in originality and creativity.
In being so extreme in reactions, Tumblr users convey a level of silliness and drama in the level of emotion and energy that comes through in the text.
In being so extreme in reactions, Tumblr users convey a level of silliness and drama in the level of emotion and energy that comes through in the text.
C) Other breaks from "Standard" English
There are a handful of other orthographic and syntax choices that I can point to as being non-standard, such as using the trademark symbol after nouns. In my mind, it's rather up for debate about what that symbol means in these contexts, but I always read the words that it applies to with a tone of weary sarcasm, as if the concept that the symbol is being applied to is a universal idea that has a particular set of expectations or implications about it the same way a brand does.
It's open to interpretation, but it does draw the eye.
It's open to interpretation, but it does draw the eye.
Another broad category of syntax choices that Tumblr regularly employ is the use of "cry typing" where the one typing purposefully jumbles letters and spacing as if they are so emotional while typing that spelling correctly can't be expected of them. While it does take an extra moment to decipher, the text does retain readability since the tactic would become meaningless otherwise.
It's a simple tactic that adds a level of emotion to the text that it wouldn't have without the switch in syntax and orthography.
It's a simple tactic that adds a level of emotion to the text that it wouldn't have without the switch in syntax and orthography.