2b or Not 2b
Robert Poynter
Professor Collum
English 1301-.0025
06/16/13
2b or not 2b an essay
In the article “2b or not 2b” David Crystal starts out discussing how others such as John Sutherland said that texting is destroying the English language. And Sutherland had
created names for the new language of texting like “textese”, “slanguage” and that texting
is a digital virus. David Crystal also made the comment that John Humphries argues that
people who text are “vandals who are doing to our language what Genghis Khan did to
his neighbors 800 years ago. They are destroying it.” David Crystal, a professor at The
University at Whales, is known for his work in English language studies and linguistics.
David Crystal has also written over 100 books on the English language and has a very
different view of texting. David Crystal states that texting is “not a disaster” and that
“texting has added a new dimension to the use” of the English language. I agree with
David Crystal when he said that he believes texting can improve a child’s ability to read
and write rather than hinder their literacy. I would also like to point out that a person,
whether it be a child or adult, has to actually know the standard language before
alternatives or abbreviated forms can be used. Also people that use texting to
communicate have a chance to experiment and play with the language to see what can be
created. Another very important point that David Crystal makes in his article is that the
goal of the person creating or sending a text, abbreviated word, is that they want their
message or word to be easily understood and that it should be easy to read. Abbreviated
words have been around for centuries. Words like exam (examination), vet (veterinarian
or veteran) and fridge (refrigerator) are a few examples of abbreviated words that have
taken their place in the English language and have been adopted as new words. I
Professor Collum
English 1301-.0025
06/16/13
2b or not 2b an essay
In the article “2b or not 2b” David Crystal starts out discussing how others such as John Sutherland said that texting is destroying the English language. And Sutherland had
created names for the new language of texting like “textese”, “slanguage” and that texting
is a digital virus. David Crystal also made the comment that John Humphries argues that
people who text are “vandals who are doing to our language what Genghis Khan did to
his neighbors 800 years ago. They are destroying it.” David Crystal, a professor at The
University at Whales, is known for his work in English language studies and linguistics.
David Crystal has also written over 100 books on the English language and has a very
different view of texting. David Crystal states that texting is “not a disaster” and that
“texting has added a new dimension to the use” of the English language. I agree with
David Crystal when he said that he believes texting can improve a child’s ability to read
and write rather than hinder their literacy. I would also like to point out that a person,
whether it be a child or adult, has to actually know the standard language before
alternatives or abbreviated forms can be used. Also people that use texting to
communicate have a chance to experiment and play with the language to see what can be
created. Another very important point that David Crystal makes in his article is that the
goal of the person creating or sending a text, abbreviated word, is that they want their
message or word to be easily understood and that it should be easy to read. Abbreviated
words have been around for centuries. Words like exam (examination), vet (veterinarian
or veteran) and fridge (refrigerator) are a few examples of abbreviated words that have
taken their place in the English language and have been adopted as new words. I