SMS: Next Evolution of the English Language
Aaron Davis
Mr. Martinous
Comp 1
November 26, 2013
SMS: Next Evolution of the English Language All living languages change. They have no existence apart from the people who use them. And since people are always changing, their language changes to keep up with them. Sometimes the reason for change is obvious. When we invent something, it needs a name, so then a new word comes into being. If we time-traveled back to 1990 and talk to people we might have a hard time communicating with them because they may not understand our new words and wouldn’t know what we were talking about. New words come into use and old words go out of use. We see this pattern of behavior in every area of human knowledge and every part of society. Textspeak is described as “a hybrid of spoken and written English, textspeak is a largely sound-based, or phonological, form of spelling that can reduce the time and cost of texting” (Kemp 18). The media, parents and educators have disputed that using this textspeak is harmful to children’s use of the English language. However, studies have shown that this is not as widespread of a problem as it is believed to be. Textspeak is not the first time we have used shortened words or phrases to make life easier. Shorthand was an important part of secretarial training before they had ways of recording dictation. And although it was primarily used to record oral dictation, some systems were used for condensed expression. Although the use of shorthand is somewhat limited now to just amateurs, it was believed to have a negative effect on the user’s ability to properly use the English language. The same has been said about text messaging. While there have been studies that argue to both sides of the debate, “The filtering of textspeak into academic language also does not show any significant change in literacy levels. Adults have underestimated the intelligence of children and their ability to differentiate different forms or different settings,”
Mr. Martinous
Comp 1
November 26, 2013
SMS: Next Evolution of the English Language All living languages change. They have no existence apart from the people who use them. And since people are always changing, their language changes to keep up with them. Sometimes the reason for change is obvious. When we invent something, it needs a name, so then a new word comes into being. If we time-traveled back to 1990 and talk to people we might have a hard time communicating with them because they may not understand our new words and wouldn’t know what we were talking about. New words come into use and old words go out of use. We see this pattern of behavior in every area of human knowledge and every part of society. Textspeak is described as “a hybrid of spoken and written English, textspeak is a largely sound-based, or phonological, form of spelling that can reduce the time and cost of texting” (Kemp 18). The media, parents and educators have disputed that using this textspeak is harmful to children’s use of the English language. However, studies have shown that this is not as widespread of a problem as it is believed to be. Textspeak is not the first time we have used shortened words or phrases to make life easier. Shorthand was an important part of secretarial training before they had ways of recording dictation. And although it was primarily used to record oral dictation, some systems were used for condensed expression. Although the use of shorthand is somewhat limited now to just amateurs, it was believed to have a negative effect on the user’s ability to properly use the English language. The same has been said about text messaging. While there have been studies that argue to both sides of the debate, “The filtering of textspeak into academic language also does not show any significant change in literacy levels. Adults have underestimated the intelligence of children and their ability to differentiate different forms or different settings,”
Cited: Crystal, David. Little Book of Language, A. Yale University Press, 2010. Print Drouin, M.A. “College students’ text messaging, use of textese and literacy skils.” Journal of Computer Assisted Learning 27 (2011): 67-75. Web. 13 Nov 2013. The Impact of Texting on Language. Wordpress. 2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2013 Kemp, N. & C. Bushnell. “Children’s text messaging: abbreviations, input methods and links with literacy” Journal of Computer Assisted Learning 27 (2011): 18-27 Web. 13 Nov. 2013 “The Gr8 Deb8, of Teen Txting: Text Messaging Ruining the English Language?” KHQ News. KHQ-TV, Spokane. 14 Feb 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2013