is texting ruining the english language essay

Is Texting Killing the English Language?

People have always spoken differently from how they write, and texting is actually talking with your fingers

Texting has long been bemoaned as the downfall of the written word, “penmanship for illiterates,” as one critic  called it . To which the proper response is LOL. Texting properly isn’t writing at all — it’s actually more akin to spoken language. And it’s a “spoken” language that is getting richer and more complex by the year.

First, some historical perspective. Writing was only invented 5,500 years ago, whereas language probably traces back at least 80,000 years. Thus talking came first; writing is just an artifice that came along later. As such, the first writing was based on the way people talk, with short sentences — think of the Old Testament. However, while talk is largely subconscious and rapid, writing is deliberate and slow. Over time, writers took advantage of this and started crafting tapeworm sentences such as this one, from  The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire : “The whole engagement lasted above 12 hours, till the gradual retreat of the Persians was changed into a disorderly flight, of which the shameful example was given by the principal leaders and the Surenas himself.”

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No one talks like that casually — or should. But it is natural to desire to do so for special occasions, and that’s what oratory is, like the grand-old kinds of speeches that William Jennings Bryan delivered. In the old days, we didn’t much write like talking because there was no mechanism to reproduce the speed of conversation. But texting and instant messaging do — and a revolution has begun. It involves the brute mechanics of writing, but in its economy, spontaneity and even vulgarity, texting is actually a new kind of talking. There is a virtual cult of concision and little interest in capitalization or punctuation. The argument that texting is “poor writing” is analogous, then, to one that the Rolling Stones is “bad music” because it doesn’t use violas. Texting is developing its own kind of grammar and conventions.

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Texting is developing its own kind of grammar. Take LOL . It doesn’t actually mean “laughing out loud” in a literal sense anymore. LOL has evolved into something much subtler and sophisticated and is used even when nothing is remotely amusing. Jocelyn texts “Where have you been?” and Annabelle texts back “LOL at the library studying for two hours.” LOL  signals basic empathy between texters, easing tension and creating a sense of equality. Instead of having a literal meaning, it does something — conveying an attitude — just like the -ed ending conveys past tense rather than “meaning” anything. LOL , of all things, is grammar.

Of course no one thinks about that consciously. But then most of communication operates below the radar. Over time, the meaning of a word or an expression drifts — meat used to mean any kind of food , silly used to mean, believe it or not, blessed.

Civilization, then, is fine — people banging away on their smartphones are fluently using a code separate from the one they use in actual writing, and there is no evidence that texting is ruining composition skills. Worldwide people speak differently from the way they write, and texting — quick, casual and only intended to be read once — is actually a way of talking with your fingers.

All indications are that America’s youth are doing it quite well. Texting, far from being a scourge, is a work in progress.

This essay is adapted from McWhorter’s talk at TED 2013.

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The linguistic miracle of texting: John McWhorter at TED2013

Photos: James Duncan Davidson

More than 22 million text messages are sent across the world every day … many in truly terrible English. It’s the end of the world as we know it, many decry. The decline and fall of written language means the end for us all, right? Not so fast. Linguist John McWhorter has a great new theory on what’s really going on in modern texting. Far from being a scourge, texting is a linguistic miracle.

Spoken human language has been around for about 150,000 years, but it wasn’t until much later that written language came about; as he puts it: “If humanity has existed for 24 hours, writing came about at 11:07 pm.” This distinction is crucial what it comes to the so-called degradation of written language — because texting isn’t written language. It much more closely resembles the kind of language we’ve had for so many more years: spoken language.

When you write, you can do things you can’t do in speaking. McWhorter elocutes a passage from Edward Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire . It’s precise, detailed and crisp — and “no one would ever speak that way. At least not if they were interested in reproducing.” Casual speech is quite different: looser, telegraphic, less reflective. Texting ignores punctuation and capitalization, but does anyone think about these things when speaking?

Formal oration, a kind of speaking that sounds like writing, has always been common. But why not try to write like you speak? Now that we have incredibly fast technology to keep up with the pace of speech — mobile phones, rather than typewriters or handwriting — that’s actually possible. What is texting? McWhorter suggests: “fingered speech.”

Texting, like any language, has its own distinct rules and structures. Take the example of “lol.” “Lol” once meant “laughing out loud.” But anybody who texts today knows that these days it has a subtler meaning. Consider the exchange:

Susan: lol thanks gmail is being slow right now Julie: lol, i know. Susan: i just sent you an email. Julie: lol, i see it.

McWhorter cites a passage from 1956 bemoaning the decline of language in young people … and then three more, all the way back to 63 AD: a pedant lamenting everyone’s terrible Latin. (That “terrible Latin” eventually became French.) As he says, “There are always people worried about the decline of language. Yet somehow the world keeps spinning.” There’s no need to worry, he says firmly. People are even benefiting from texting, from this entirely different language. Being fluent in spoken language, written language and writing-like-speaking language is an unconscious balancing act that allows each “speaker” to expand his or her linguistic repertoire.

So no scourge is imminent. McWhorter says, if he could fast-forward to 2033 — besides first checking to see if David Simon had written a sequel to The Wire — he would immediately want to see texts written by 16-year-old girls to see what’s become of this linguistic miracle.

John McWhorter’s talk is now available for viewing. Watch it on TED.com»

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Is text messaging ruining the English language?

The speed and shorthand of SMS has irreversibly changed our use of English, but is this a good or bad thing?

A UN poll in 2012 found that at the time of polling just over a year ago, there were as many mobile phones as people in the world: over six billion. When you consider that around half of that global population lives in a state of subsistence or poverty which makes owning a mobile phone unlikely, those statistics are even more incredible.

Mobile phone usage and telecommunication has been one of the runaway successes of the twenty-first century. But the question which puzzles us at EF English Live is – has it affected the way we use the language of English? And if it has, is it for better or for worse?

In this blog we’ll take a look at a few areas that might help us navigate this tricky problem. Hpe u tnk it’s gr8!

Mobile phone usage: a few quick facts

– The country with the highest density of mobile phones is…Panama! This Latin American state has an average of over 202 phones per 100 people; meaning each person has at least two mobile telephones.

– The country with the lowest density of mobile phones is North Korea – this is perhaps a combination of economic factors and the regime’s secretive policy towards foreigners and communication.

– The country with the most mobile phones is China, registering just over 1.2 billion (with a population of 1.3 billion) – with the exception of India (over 800 million mobiles) this is more than double every other country’s number.

About the communication our mobile phones are capable of

Most phones run off a network that is described using a number followed by the letter G. As mobiles have developed we have been able to use them for more and more modes of communication – writing, speaking, filming, image sharing; and this has profoundly affected our use of English.

– the ‘G’ in 3G/4G networks stands for ‘generation’; 1G was used to describe the very first mobile telephones introduced by Motorola in the mid-1980s. 1G phones used analogue technology

– 3G phones (introduced in the late 1990s) were the first to go beyond simple voice technologies and introduce digital technologies including internet communication

– with the advent of 3G and 4G, live messaging and other forms of ‘instant’ writing have become the norm for mobile users

Talking vs texting

One conflict that has been produced by the surge in mobile phone use is a rift between people who like to talk and people who prefer to text. Sending text messages has become a medium of choice for mobile phone users.

Young people are increasingly prone to texting and shy away from making calls, which are more direct – but also less permanent forms of communication. Ironically, the speed at which instant messaging or texting takes place means that mistakes and shorthands are common: but we often let each other get away with them because we know what they mean.

Many teachers in primary and secondary schools have expressed concern at the number of children whose literacy levels are dropping; and who are not even able to write by hand, so accustomed are they to computers, tablets and mobiles.

Some texting terms have even made it into common parlance: ‘lol’ (laugh out loud), ‘omg’ (oh my god), pls (please). The craze for shortening words, absorbed from texting, is also changing how we speak – ‘amaze’ for ‘amazing’, ‘totes’ for totally, ‘blates’ for blatantly: these are all largely teenage usages that are becoming mainstream.

But does this mean it’s turning us all into inarticulate blobs?

Mini-debate:

This house proposes that text messaging is ruining the English language

You only need to look at recent education statistics to see that text messaging is completely devastating the English language. Recent findings have suggested that schoolchildren in the 1960s and 1970s were far more literate than children of today. In 2013, the average schoolchild struggles more with spelling, grammar and essay-writing: essential skills which before now were considered key to a good grasp of the English language. Text messaging is alienating English speakers from their native tongue and confusing non-natives who wish to learn the language. It promotes mis-spelling. English is a beautiful tongue with a rich literary history which does not deserve to be overshadowed by phrases like ‘c u l8r’ and ‘megalolz’.

As any linguist knows, language is not a static thing. Change and development is the one constant in life, and the changing sounds and phrases of a language are merely reflections of the changes in a particular society. You cannot expect the English language to remain the same while the world around us – and particularly the way we communicate – is subject to so much variation. Text messaging can be a fun and playful way to communicate – the important thing to remember for education is teaching children how to employ different ways of communication. Writing an essay and writing a text are different things; children can learn both. What is more, texting is being used to actually help literacy in developing countries: a UN SMS-based literacy program in Pakistan aims to help women in Islamabad to read. Now what’s so bad about that?

What do you think? Does text messaging make it harder to learn and speak English ? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Mialki, Texting: A Boon, Not a Threat, to Language

The following student essay illustrates one possible structure for a caus e- an d- effect argument. (Note, for example, that the refutation of opposing arguments precedes the evidence.) The student writer argues that, contrary to popular opinion, texting is not causing damage to the English language but is a creative force with the power to enrich and expand the language.

TEXTING: A BOON, NOT A THREAT, TO LANGUAGE

KRISTINA MIALKI

Thesis statement

Certain technological developments of the last two decades have a lot of people worrying about the state of the English language. Emailing, blogging, instan t- messaging, tweeting, and texting are introducing new ways of writing and communicating, and the fear is that these technologies will encourage a sloppy, casual form of written English that will eventually replace “proper” English altogether. Texting, in particular, has people concerned because it encourages the use of a specialized, nonstandard form of English. However, the effects of this new “textese” are misunderstood. Texting is not destroying the English language; in fact, it is keeping the language alive.

Texting has become extremely popular because sending text messages is instant, mobile, and silent. To make texting more efficient, texters have developed a shorthan d— an abbreviated form of English that uses numbers and symbols in addition to letters. In textese, common phrases such as “see you later” or “talk to you later” become “cul8r” and “ttyl.” Feelings and phrases are also expressed with emoticons, such as “:-o” (meaning “alarmed”) or “>:-<” (meaning “angry”). Today, texting is the preferred method of communication for millions of peopl e— especially young people, who are the most enthusiastic users of this technology. Not surprisingly, unwarranted fears that texting will destroy the language often focus on this group.

Refutation of opposing arguments

Some people say texting will destroy the English language because it encourages the use of an overly simplified form of written English that does not follow standard rules of spelling, grammar, and punctuation. The implication is that people who text, particularly children and teens, will not learn standard written English. However, there is no evidence that texting is having or will have this effect. In fact, Australian researchers Nenagh Kemp and Catherine Bushnell at the University of Tasmania recently found just the opposite to be true. They demonstrated that students who were good at texting were also strong in reading, writing, and spelling (Rock). If, in fact, young people’s language skills are weakening, researchers should look for the real cause for this decline rather than incorrectly blaming texting.

Evidence: First point in support of thesis

Despite what its critics charge, texting is a valuable way of communicating that actually encourages more writing and reading. Texters often spend hours each day engaged with language. This is time that would otherwise probably be spent on the phone, not reading or writing. Textese may not be standard written English, but it is a rich and inventive form of communication, a creative modification of English for a particular purpose. For this reason, standard English is not in danger of being destroyed or replaced by textese. Just as most young people know not to talk to their teachers the way they talk to their friends, they know not to write essays the way they write text messages. Texting simply broadens young people’s exposure to the written word.

Evidence: Second point in support of thesis

Another reason texting is valuable is that it encourages creative use of language. These messages are typically quick and brief, so the need for new and clever abbreviations is constant. Texters are continually playing with words and coming up with new ways of expressing themselves. Texting does not, as some fear, encourage sloppy, thoughtless, or careless writing. On the contrary, it rewards ingenuity and precision. One ongoing study by Canadian researchers aims to prove this point. They have already been able to demonstrate that texters are “creative and efficient at communicating” and use “novel forms of communications” (Shaw). Nenagh Kemp has also observed how texting encourages word play. Kemp maintains that texting shows “language is fluid and flourishing, rather than in a sad state of decline” (Rock). In other words, researchers recognize that texting is not damaging the English language but actually enriching it and keeping it alive.

Concluding statement

According to Business Insider , eightee n- to twent y- fou r- yea r- olds now send 2,022 texts per month and receive 1,831 texts (Cocotas). That averages out to around 67 texts per day. The exceptional popularity of texting and its fast growth over the last fifteen years explain why it is attracting attention. It is not, however, the threat that some believe it to be. It is neither destroying the language nor deadening people’s thoughts and feelings. It is a lively, original, and creative way for people to play with words and stay connected.

Works Cited

Cocotas, Alex. “Chart of the Day: Kids Send a Mind Boggling Number of Texts Every Month.” Business Insider , 22 Mar. 2013, www.businessinsider.com/ chart-of-the-day-number-of-texts-sent-2013-3 .

Rock, Margaret. “Texting May Improve Literacy.” Mobiledia , Mashable, 12 Sept. 2011, mashable.com/ 2011/ 09/ 12/ texting-improves-literacy/ #sCYnNT6VB8qL .

Shaw, Gillian. “Researchers Study Text Messages as Language Form.” Vancouver Sun , 18 Jan. 2012, www.vancouversun.com/ life/ researchers+study+text+messages+language+form/ 6010501/ story.html .

GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT

Avoiding “The Reason Is Because”

When you write a caus e- an d- effect argument , you connect causes to effects. In the process, you might be tempted to use the ungrammatical phrase the reason is because . However, the word because means “for the reason that”; therefore, it is redundant to say “the reason is because” (which actually means “the reason is for the reason that”). Instead, use the grammatical phrase “the reason is that .”

• Is Texting Killing the English Language?
• Educational
• Posted on June 8, 2016
• By spinkerton
• In Educational

But let’s go back a while. Writing was invented over 5,00 years ago, and language likely traces back perhaps 80,000 years. So talking came first; writing is just an artifice that came along much later. Due to this, writing was first based on the way people talk, with short sentences — think of the Old Testament. However, while talking is largely subconscious and rapid, writing is slower and more deliberate. Like language assessment tests, speaking tests are always shorter in duration than written tests. But in getting back to texting – It’s developing its own type of grammar (no pun intended). Take  LOL for example . It doesn’t actually mean “laughing out loud” in a literal sense anymore.  LOL  has evolved into something much subtler and sophisticated and is used even when nothing is remotely amusing. Jessica texts “Where have you been?” and David texts back “LOL at the library studying for two hours.”  LOL  signals basic empathy between texters, easing tension and creating a sense of equality. Instead of having a literal meaning, it does something — conveying an attitude — just like the -ed ending conveys past tense rather than “meaning” anything.  LOL , of all things, is grammar.

Over time, the meaning of a word or an expression evolves —  meat  used to mean any kind of  food ,  silly  used to mean, believe it or not, blessed.

Civilization, then, is fine — people typing away on their smartphones are fluently using a code separate from the one they use in actual writing, and there’s no evidence that texting is ruining composition skills. Worldwide people speak differently from the way they write, and texting — quick, casual and only intended to be read once — is actually a way of talking with your fingers.

All indications are that America’s youth are doing it quite well. Texting, far from being a scourge, is a work in progress.

This essay is adapted from McWhorter’s  talk  at TED 2013.

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Is Texting Ruining the English Language? [Infographic]

Anuli is a writer and new-media enthusiast who dreams about becoming the sixth Spice Girl. Until then follow her on Google+  or Twitter: @akaanuli .

Mom was right, it’s not what you say, but how you say it. And today’s students prefer to say it through text messaging.

A new infographic released by OnlineSchools.com explores whether the widespread practice of abbreviated messaging is proof that the future of the English language is changing.

Communicating through text messaging has become so popular that the Oxford English Dictionary now includes “textish” terms, such as LOL (laugh out loud), OMG (oh my God) and TMI (too much information), making them an official part of the English language. OMG, we’ve sure come a long way from the Queen’s English!

Text messaging is a common method of communication for students: 97 percent of young adults who own a cell phone text on a daily basis. Since young adults send an average of 109.5 text messages a day, it is no surprise that texting slang has found its way into the classroom.

The effect of texting on grammar has been highly debated by educators.

One study of “Generation Txt” students showed that scores on grammar assessment tests decreased as text-speak use increased. However, a separate British study of students ages 8–12 discovered a link between text messages and high performance on standardized spelling tests.

It is uncertain whether text messaging has doomed the future of the English language, but one thing is for sure: Students will continue to text.

This infographic originally appeared on OnlineSchools.com.

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• Is Txting Ruining the English…

Is Txting Ruining the English Language 4 U?

Anxiously waiting to receive a text, or experiencing “textpectation,” is an example of a word blend.  This is one of the many ways that new words enter a language. Changes in meaning and spelling, as well as the adoption of new words, are part of any actively spoken language– and all spoken languages are dynamic forms of human expression. In fact, over half the words in the English language have been formed by adding prefixes and suffixes to root words (a process that continues today). For many, however, texting is changing the English language in undesirable ways.  Adopted texting abbreviations for everyday words are not only taking over the way we write English, but also affecting the way we speak.

While adapting to such changes is historically how languages have evolved and survived over time, technology is also challenging our tolerance for change at a much faster pace. So is texting changing our language too much and too fast? Forget about the absence of proper grammar and spelling. What happens when we no longer write out the phrase “You Only Live Once” and replace it with “YOLO?”  When did “LOL”(1*) and “OMG” become real words that are actually found in the Oxford English Dictionary? Why do we use numbers to stand in for words like 2 (representing to or too), 4 (representing for, or as in 4get to represent “forget”) and 8 (representing “ate,” as in l8ter, meaning “later”)? Are we ruining the language, or just modernizing it to fit our needs?

Moreover, this trend is not confined to texting.  Tweeting, with its limit on the number of characters allowed, has also created a push for forming abbreviations or “initialisms.” Of course, as texting  and tweeting become more popular as a form of communication everywhere, English is not the only language that is being affected. For example, in China, weibo.com has replaced Twitter and the number of weibo users is quickly growing. One of the most interesting phenomena born from electronic communication are the universal symbols representing emotions: emoticons. The human need to communicate emotions has made these symbols extremely popular. Moreover, not only are they used in texting and tweeting, which have functionally replaced phone calls and voice messages, but also in writing emails and instant messaging. In the absence of tone and facial expression, it is natural that we would want some form of relaying how we feel.

So while we may suggest that texting has changed our everyday language at a faster pace than ever before, scholars of Old English might be less surprised by these changes. Linguists may not feel that texting is necessarily ruining the English language.  Rather, it is just a continuation of the process of evolution.  It inevitably occurs with the passing of time, and is perhaps preferable to a stagnant language that loses its usability and becomes extinct. We will continue to adapt to changes in our everyday language, including keeping up with the ways in which we communicate electronically.

(1*)  According to Oxford Dictionary, LOL dates to 1960 when it was used as an abbreviation for little old lady and not laugh out loud.

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Is Text Messaging Ruining English?

With every generation come cries that teenagers are destroying the language with their newfangled slang. The current grievance harps on the way casual language used in texts and instant messages inhibits kids from understanding how to write and speak “properly.” While amateur language lovers might think this argument makes sense, experts say this is not at all the case. In fact, linguists say teenagers, far from destroying English, are innovating and enriching the language.

First of all, abbreviations like haha , lol , omg , brb , and btw are more infrequent than you might imagine, according to a 2008 paper by Sali A. Tagliamonte and Derek Denis . Of course, 2008 is a long time ago in terms of digital fluency, but the findings of the study are nevertheless fascinating. Looking at IM conversations of Toronto-based teenagers, Tagliamonte found that “the use of short forms, abbreviations, and emotional language is infinitesimally small.” These sorts of stereotypical markers of teen language accounted for only 3 percent of Tagliamonte’s data. Perhaps one of her most interesting findings is that older teens start to outgrow the abbreviation lol , opting for the more mature haha . Tagliamonte’s 16-year-old daughter told her, “I used to use lol when I was a kid.”

Tagliamonte, who now is exploring language development in texting as well as instant messaging, argues that these forms of communication are a cultivated mix of formal and informal language and that these mediums are “on the forefront of change.” In an article published in May of this year, Tagliamonte concludes that “students showed that they knew where to use proper English.” For example, a student might not start sentences with capital letters in IMs and text messages, but still understands to do this in formal papers. Tagliamonte believes that this kind of natural blending of conversational registers employed by teens would not be possible without a sophisticated understanding of both formal and informal language.

It was once trendy to try to speak like people wrote, and now it’s the other way around. For the first time in history, we can write quickly enough to capture qualities of spoken language in our writing, and teens are skillfully doing just that. John McWhorter’s 2013 TED Talk “ Txting is killing language. JK!!! ” further supports the idea that teens are language innovators. He believes their creative development of the English language should be not mocked, but studied, calling texting “an expansion of [young people’s] linguistic repertoire.” He singles out the subtle communication prowess of lol . Teens are using it in non-funny situations, and its meaning has expanded beyond just “laugh out loud.” Now it can be used as a marker of empathy and tone, something often lacking in written communication. This is an enhancement–not a perversion–of language. There’s also evidence to suggest that lol sometimes carries a similar meaning to wtf (and furthermore, the abbreviation wtf is more functional and sophisticated than it seems).

Teens aren’t the only ones opting for abbreviations in written communication. The first citation of OMG in the Oxford English Dictionary is from a 1917 letter from the British admiral John Arbuthnot Fisher to none other than Winston Churchill. He writes, “I hear that a new order of Knighthood is on the tapis–O.M.G. (Oh! My God!)–Shower it on the Admiralty!!” Clearly, to give young people all the credit for spreading new abbreviations would be shortsighted, though this letter does bring up the question of where Admiral John Fisher first encountered OMG . Perhaps he picked up this colorful expression from his grandchildren.

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Has Texting and Email Ruined Students’ Writing Skills?

What effect does texting have on your kids.

Posted March 11, 2012 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

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Teachers and parents alike have voiced concern over whether texting, with its abbreviations, shortcuts, and odd grammar, hurts kids' writing skills. There has been little definitive research on the topic, although surveys of teens suggest that the majority consider text language and written English to be separate forms of communication.

Linguists are divided, with some seeing deterioration in writing skills that they attribute to text and email, and others believing that text messaging constitutes a different form of language. Schools in Australia are actually teaching students about text messaging and comparing its form and structure to written English. When treating texting as a different sort of language, there can be academic (and practical) benefits to actually studying it: Students can learn more about syntax and grammar (and improve their texting at the same time).

Since texting, email, and whatever the next form of electronic communication will be, are not going away, it makes sense to study it, and perhaps teach it (or at least teach about it) in schools.

As an organizational psychologist who studies nonverbal communication , there was a concern as email became more commonplace in work settings that the loss of face-to-face communication and phone conversations, with their rich nonverbal cues, would lead to communication breakdowns. Although there are indeed problems with email communication, savvy users take care to make meaning clear, and the use of "emoticons" (the smiley faces) has helped to put in some of the lost emotional cues. Email is not going away, so it makes sense to study how to use it more effectively.

Ronald E. Riggio, Ph.D. , is the Henry R. Kravis Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology at Claremont McKenna College.

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Texting Is Not Ruining Language — It’s Evolving It

I’m old enough to remember the debate about whether or not it was appropriate to use the word “ text ” as a verb. “How are we supposed to conjugate it into the past tense?” we’d say, our voices laden with incredulity. “Say, ‘ I texted ’? That’s ridiculous. ” Merriam Webster records the first use of “text” as a verb in 1998 . These days we bandy it about without a second thought.

Since the beginning of texting, some linguists have accused it of being the downfall of the English language. In a 2002 article in the Guardian , John Sutherland, a Professor of Modern English Literature at University College London, called texting “penmanship for illiterates” and referred to emojis as “face symbols.” He also predicted that texting was no more than a passing fad, sure to burn out after “a year or two (max).” “If you don’t text now,” he wrote, “it’s not worth learning: in a couple of years voice recognition systems will kick in.”

Ah, well, some articles age better than others, I suppose. I’m sure plenty of Sutherland’s other proclamations weren’t so completely dead wrong.

Language Evolves, And Texting Is Part Of That

Still, Sutherland’s hubris with regard to his ability to predict the evolution of language should serve as a warning to us all, especially those of us who have reached the age of using phrases like “kids these days”: criticism of how young people communicate tends to age very badly.

Gretchen McCulloch, author of “ Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language ” and co-host of the podcast “Lingthusiasm,” makes the case that texting is just another way to communicate, and is a natural part of our language evolution. She notes that texting has developed its own rules and conventions, but those conventions tend to be highly context-dependent: Older people text differently than younger people. We text friends differently than we text colleagues.

The underlying focus of the communication can be different, too. “The old rules are these top-down, ‘here’s how you use an apostrophe,’ ‘here’s how you use a semicolon’ type of thing,” McCulloch said in an interview with NPR . “The new rules are about: How are other people going to interpret your tone of voice? … The old rules are about using language to demonstrate intellectual superiority, and the new rules are about using language to create connection between people.”

Periods Are Aggressive. Apparently.

Last week, a friend of mine posted the following queery to Facebook: “Both of my teenagers agree that periods in text messages are ‘aggressive.’ Are they broken?” 228 comments later, there was no general consensus on whether periods are aggressive, but specific trends were clear: young people think adding a period is the text equivalent of a death stare. Older people are like, “But … punctuation. It’s the end of a sentence. Hello .”

I send enough texts throughout the day that I tend to side more with the whippersnappers on this one: I leave off periods, and when someone responds with a period I have to pause and consider context before I determine if the person is annoyed with me or just meticulous with punctuation.

McCulloch addressed the contentious period in her interview with NPR too. She said that it makes sense that as texting evolved, the period started to get left off. With formal writing, you need a formal break to mark the the separation between sentences. With texting, the separation is marked by hitting send. Adding a period is redundant.

So, to a young person, the text “awesome” is an exclamation of approval and excitement, whereas the text “Awesome.” might come across as sarcastic. (Think: “Ugh, awesome ,” with an eyeroll.)

Texting Isn’t The Downfall Of Grammar, Either

In episode seven of her podcast , “Lingthusiasm,” McCulloch confronts the assertion that kids are ruining language, specifically with texting. One study that was published in 2012 claimed a correlation between the amount of time a kid spent texting and a decline in grammar skills. The media jumped on the study and published various articles parroting the results without actually analyzing the study’s methodologies. When linguists took a closer look at the study, they found that not only was the correlation statistically insignificant, but that it could also be attributed to grade level. And the kids (middle school-aged) were only required to take a 20-question test on grammar. The content of their writing — their ability to clearly articulate their ideas — wasn’t even considered.

According to McCulloch and multiple other studies , informal text speak is not a predictor of poor skills in formal writing. In fact, a 2010 study by M.A. Drouin from Indiana University–Purdue University found that students who texted more scored higher on grammar, spelling, and reading fluency tests.

Kids Are Expressing Themselves Through Writing More Than Ever Before

And doesn’t that makes sense? After all, kids are constantly writing . They’re literally expressing themselves via written word all the freaking time. Teens’ texts might be a hot mess in terms of punctuation and grammar, but that doesn’t mean they “can’t write.”

I write for a living, and the thumb-typed texts I peck out on my phone in personal correspondences differ massively from what I produce on my laptop. On my phone, where I text with my thumbs only, I ignore spelling errors, typos, and other grammar rules (my own and others’) — but only when I’m on my phone. If I’m typing a message on my computer keyboard, I automatically use punctuation, because in that case my fingers are used to including punctuation. My kids do the same. Their texting is a mess, but the writing they do for school assignments follows traditional spelling and grammar conventions appropriate to their grade level and sometimes beyond.

Texting Is Making Language Evolve Even Faster

The more connected we are, the faster language evolves. Every year, hundreds of words are added to Merriam Webster . Not only does our digital connectedness allow new words and phrases to spread with unprecedented quickness, but sites like Urban Dictionary allow older generations to catch on to slang phrases of younger generations and incorporate them into their own lexicon, thereby instantly stripping them of their coolness. (RIP, “ on fleek .”)

Texting has become almost like a different language with its own expectations, shorthands, and implied meanings. In terms of the interpersonal sharing of ideas, it has no more or no less value than formal written English. It is a natural part of the evolution of one of the most distinctly human things we do — communicate with language. Our kids will surprise us with their ability to register-switch, or code-switch, between informal text-speak and the kind of language required to compose an essay for school. And they’ll surprise us with their limitless creativity for generating new words faster than we can keep up.

This article was originally published on April 19, 2021

Is Texting Ruining the English Language? Essay Sample

Some say that it is queering children’s ability to efficaciously pass on both written and orally. and there are statements stating that it really helps kids pass on better. In this essay I will be looking at both sides of the statement and seeking to come up with a decision as to whether texting is really destructing the English linguistic communication. Arguments against this statement are varied; some believe it helps the kids communicate more efficaciously. As a kid communication by text can be seen as ‘cool’ i personally believe it’s merely a tendency that like others will come and travel. At the minute the tendency of text message linguistic communication is really popular and with most English citizens having a nomadic it is really widely spread but one uncertainty people really use text message linguistic communication in mundane address and other things such as school and work. I think that the usage of this linguistic communication is strictly for texting and should be kept to that. while others think it’s merely the English linguistic communication germinating as it has done for 100s of old ages. for illustration our linguistic communication presently evolved from Shakespearean and so on.

Peoples believe that the English linguistic communication is flexible and used to alter therefore it can accommodate to alterations. in this instance text messaging; Text messaging is a perfect illustration of how people adapt and mould linguistic communication to accommodate different contexts. Text messaging can besides be seen a more of a convenience than a new linguistic communication in itself. more a tool than the creative activity of a whole new linguistic communication. Text message linguistic communication is extremely abbreviated an therefore saves clip. clip that can be used to make other things. another ground why people like it so much. Arguments holding with this statement besides differ. The chief statement to be considered is that people can be considered as field lazy for utilizing this linguistic communication. The usage of abbreviations allows the user to avoid holding to spell right and hence confines the individual to the text linguistic communication itself; hence I believe its pure indolence.

Peoples would besides reason that its set uping children’s ability to pass on both written and orally which in their hereafter lives would be a monolithic job with school. occupations and what non. The people reasoning against this believe that texting itself is doing kids to bury the regulations of RP English and wholly disregard the usage of proper grammar whereas I would state it’s informal and merely a tool of convenience. I personally believe that it is harmless and is merely an easier and much more convenient manner of pass oning I believe that some people are looking excessively profoundly into the result of text message linguistic communication and that the linguistic communication itself is perchance merely a tendency instead than a whole new linguistic communication emerging. Like the Morse codification I believe this is merely advancement in engineering and that every bit long as it is kept on text so the English linguistic communication should confront no problem in

lasting. merely as it has done for many old ages.

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Kashmir: The changing face of Gurez Valley

This once-pristine valley near the loc has been marred by tourism..

Published : Aug 14, 2024 15:31 IST - 1 MIN READ

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A view of Habba Khatoon Peak from Dawar in Gurez Valley. | Photo Credit: Adil Abass

Gurez Valley is located about 123 km north of Srinagar, surrounded by thick forests and mountains. The Kishanganga River with its springs and streams course through the valley. Situated close to the Line of Control (LoC), it is cut off from the rest of the Kashmir Valley for the whole winter period from October onwards.

A truck traverses the hilly terrain at Razdan Pass, 11,624 ft above sea level. This vital link between Kashmir Valley and Ladakh is typically snowbound from October to April. | Photo Credit: Adil Abass

A log hut nestled in Achoora village, with the last village of India, Churwan, lying beyond it. The Line of Control divides this scenic valley, separating the Dards from their Indo-Aryan counterparts in Pakistan. | Photo Credit: Adil Abass

The inhabitants of Gurez are called Dards and they speak the unique Shina language. In the summers, the men and women of the region go up the mountains to collect firewood for the harsh winter months ahead. During winter, the Gurez Valley receives up to 20 feet of snowfall and remains isolated from the rest of the Kashmir Valley for about six months.

Young girls from the Dard tribal community sit outside their traditional log home in Tulail village, Gurez. As one of the most ancient Dard-Shina tribes, they preserve their Shia language and culture, echoing the voices of their ancestors from Gilgit, Chilas, and Skardu. | Photo Credit: Adil Abass

A newly constructed concrete building stands in an open field at Dawar, Gurez Valley, a stark contrast to the region’s traditional wooden houses. | Photo Credit: Adil Abass

Also Read | Gurez Valley: Kashmir’s pristine land braces itself for a tourism surge

I first came to Gurez about four years ago. It was all about wooden houses, clean rivers, and spaces unaffected by human activity. But on my recent visit, many changes were evident: the footprints of tourism and commercialisation are evident in the valley.

A campsite in Badwan along the Kishanganga River, once a vital freshwater source for the Dard community, now suffers from pollution due to discarded plastic bottles. This contamination threatens the health of locals who still depend on this water for drinking. | Photo Credit: Adil Abass

Trash and plastic waste mar a campsite in Badwan, Gurez, along the once-pristine Kishanganga River. | Photo Credit: Adil Abass

Concrete structures abound and wooden houses are no longer a common sight in Gurez. On one hand, the increased rush of tourists has increased employment but on the other hand, it has greatly impacted the environment and culture of the valley.

Dead pine trees along the route to Gurez Valley, where climate change is accelerating ecological degradation. | Photo Credit: Adil Abass

A pine tree root shaped like a foot lies in the Kishanganga River, revealing the consequences of deforestation in Gurez Valley. Once a lush habitat for wildlife and a cultural haven for the Dard tribe, the region now faces severe environmental degradation. | Photo Credit: Adil Abass

Also Read | Unregulated tourism takes toll on Kashmir’s fragile ecosystem

This year a record number of more than 1,00,000 tourists visited the valley. Kishanganga River has been polluted by waste dumped by visitors on the banks and near camping sites.

Razor wire installed by the Indian military forces in Tulail village, Gurez, along the LoC in northern Kashmir. The Dard-Shins of Gurez, whose ancestry can be traced back to Gilgit in Pakistan, face increased militarization of their region. | Photo Credit: Adil Abass

A man wearing a traditional Kashmiri pheran walks through Tulail village in Gurez. The people of Gurez are the Dard-Shins, whose ancestry can be traced back to Gilgit in Pakistan. | Photo Credit: Adil Abass

Adil Abass is an independent photographer based in Srinagar, Kashmir.

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Britain’s Violent Riots: What We Know

Officials had braced for more unrest on Wednesday, but the night’s anti-immigration protests were smaller, with counterprotesters dominating the streets instead.

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By Lynsey Chutel

After days of violent rioting set off by disinformation around a deadly stabbing rampage, the authorities in Britain had been bracing for more unrest on Wednesday. But by nightfall, large-scale anti-immigration demonstrations had not materialized, and only a few arrests had been made nationwide.

Instead, streets in cities across the country were filled with thousands of antiracism protesters, including in Liverpool, where by late evening, the counterdemonstration had taken on an almost celebratory tone.

Over the weekend, the anti-immigration protests, organized by far-right groups, had devolved into violence in more than a dozen towns and cities. And with messages on social media calling for wider protests and counterprotests on Wednesday, the British authorities were on high alert.

With tensions running high, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet held emergency meetings to discuss what has become the first crisis of his recently elected government. Some 6,000 specialist public-order police officers were mobilized nationwide to respond to any disorder, and the authorities in several cities and towns stepped up patrols.

Wednesday was not trouble-free, however.

In Bristol, the police said there was one arrest after a brick was thrown at a police vehicle and a bottle was thrown. In the southern city of Portsmouth, police officers dispersed a small group of anti-immigration protesters who had blocked a roadway. And in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where there have been at least four nights of unrest, disorder continued, and the police service said it would bring in additional officers.

But overall, many expressed relief that the fears of wide-scale violence had not been realized.

Here’s what we know about the turmoil in Britain.

Where arrests have been reported

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