Is txtin affectin ur evrydy writin skills? Many people believe that text messaging is slowly destroying the grammar and writing skills of many people. Over the years, electronic devices used for communication have developed their own language. When one is text messaging they shorten words, use abbreviations, and do not use proper capitalization and punctuation techniques. Although this "language" is shorter and takes less time to write, it is not considered formal writing. This unfortunately is leaking into many students everyday school work.
Text messaging is hurting many students' grammar skills. As the world wide fad of text messaging increases, grammar knowledge is decreasing. Spelling is a very big problem for many students. It has gotten to the point where students don't even know how to spell words. It is not that they did not learn how to spell in school, but they are never using the techniques that they learned. Shortening words is very common when text messaging. The words “be right back" are shortened to "brb", or “got to go” is shortened to” g2g". In many cases letters are dropped off of words such as "going" is shortened to "goin". Not only are words being shortened and abbreviated, but students do not use proper capitalization and punctuation techniques. In many cases capital letters are rarely ever used. In a conversation through texting, many students will say "i" rather than "I". Also the proper nouns are not usually capitalized when need be. Punctuation is not even used when text messaging. Periods, question marks, exclamation points, apostrophes, quotation marks, etc. are not incorporated into the sentences at all. This is a problem because this means students are not learning how to properly punctuate their sentences. Student’s grammar techniques are not used when text messaging. This is hurting them because they do not know the rules of the English language.
The text messaging language is slowly making its way into students’ formal writing. This is a major problem. When text messaging, many people talk in an “informal” voice. This is fine, for text messaging. It is not fine for school work. Using the abbreviations and improper grammar techniques in the classroom is completely unacceptable. Text messaging is causing this problem. The students are so used to typing in that informal way, that they start to write in the same exact manner. Many teachers of high and low grades have complained about this problem. They have reported that the text messaging language is appearing in many students’ schoolwork. Some teachers have even reported that students are actually starting to speak the way they would text. Teachers have exclaimed that it is very frustrating when a student uses this text messaging language. It is very difficult to break the students of this habit.
Text messaging is hurting students’ grammar and writing skills. Many people feel that some students are lacking knowledge in the English language. They do not know many of the rules of the language and are talking in a constant informal way. Many students have let the text messaging language take over their life. It is used everywhere, including school work. Text messaging is destroying students’ grammar and writing skills.
http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20090716/ARTICLES/907165030?Title=Does-texting-hurt-writing-skills-
http://www.edutopia.org/poll-text-messaging-writing-skills
This is a very interesteing topic Kristie. I enjoyed reading it because it relates to a major issue in our everyday lives. I, myself know that I have trouble goign back and forth with regular grammer because I am so used to shortening words and using abbreviations for everything. I always catch myself while typing and essay or doing my homework. It really is hurting peoples everyday language. Most students already do not have good grammer skills or use words properly, but texting is just hurting us more. I like how you stated that "it has gotten to the point where student do not even know how to spell words." This is so true because students are so used to just shortening them up that when they have to write them out on their own, their brain just remembers what it is used to. But overall very good work Kristie!
ReplyDeleteKristie, I really enjoyed reading about this topic. I almost wrote about it myself. I agree with everything that you said, and like Brittany said, I also constantly catch myself using abbreviations on homework. Texting became a way of life, and is starting to hurt peoples communication and intellectual skills. It may be hard, but people need to become more aware of the "language" they are using.
ReplyDeleteNice Job :)
Of course, according to newspaper articles and studies supported by the schools say that texting is hurting literacy and grammar, however, if you look at studies down by linguists you will find that texting is actually helping students with their literacy skills. It is common for the public discourse to be negative. In the 15th century the Church deemed the print press as Satanic. 400 years later, concerns over the invention of the telegraph, then the telephone and later broadcasting all arose claiming these inventions would cause an increase in crime, promote propaganda and be the downfall of the family. This is naturally, but completely untrue.
ReplyDeleteLook up a few studies such as Drouin, M., & Davis, C. (2009) R u txting? Is the use of text speak hurting your literacy? in the Journal of Literacy Research; Thurlow, C. (2003). Generation Txt? The sociolinguistics of young people’s text messaging. Discourse Analysis Online at http://extra.shu.ac.uk/daol/articles/v1/n1/a3/thurlow2002003-paper.html ; Thurlow, C. (2006). From Statistical Panic to Moral Panic: The Metadiscursive Construction and Popular Exaggeration of New Media Language in the Print Media. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication http://faculty.washington.edu/thurlow/papers/Thurlow(2006)-jcmc.pdf
:) Yeah, I just did a paper on this topic.