Friday, April 27, 2007
Not a real blog post today...
Just wanted to share this news with you...What do you think about it? Is language really getting "hurt" by text messaging? If so, whose language? Seems like that concept characterizes language as some sort of constant outside the realm of human activity that we should only be tapping into, but not altering. What do you think?
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16 comments:
I don't think it's that big of a threat. We grew up when IMing and Chatrooms were becoming popular. As long as it's understood that there is a difference between formal and informal language and when each is appropriate, then there shouldn't be an issue. Kids are smart enough to make a differentiation.
I don't have too much to say on this issue. I do think that maybe something should be done. We cannot control text messaging, but maybe teachers should just emphasize the difference or something. Language, education, and all other things, inevitable must adapt over time. Instead of repeating the report that txting is hurting language, we should make reports on what we do have control over, such as the way children are educated. Just a thought, not meant to be truth or an ultimatum, or anything, just what I'm thinking of right now.
I feel that text messages really cant hurt language. Yes I know we use bad grammar in texts but I think generally people know when to use that and when not to. I wouldn't write a paper or resume like I would text. The text language is the shorting of word so that it is easy and faster to write. I can see with this concept how some may be afraid that it will ruin grammar. Again though I feel most teens know when to use text grammar and when not to.
It's hurting our language. I just recently read an article in one of my other classes and it said that a kid walked in with almost a perfect SAT score and perfect grades through school but in his interview every other word was really and cool. Text messaging and aol instant messaging has a lot to do with that because we alter our speaking patterns to shorten our sentences and we use really bad language. Also in that article i read they said that the average 14 year old vocabulary has dropped from 25,000 words to about 10,000 words in recent years.
I don't think this article poses a very good argument or maybe it's just me. I don't have a problem with text messaging or younger kids text messaging as long as they realize that they shouldn't use language like that in "real" life.
Maybe language isn't really getting hurt. Perhaps grammar is getting hurt and language is just changing. Things need to adapt to different times and when you have advances in technology, other aspects of our culture must also adapt. Therefore, it is not a long stretch for our texting habits to become applied in our writing technique. But this isn't the first time language has changed. Look at what's happened to our language since Shakespeare's time. People would say that we've destroyed the written language, yet this style is easier for us to comprehend. It is possible that our language is adapting so that the new generation can also better understand their means of writing. I think language will continue to change, and if we attempt to restrict it to make one generation more comfortable, then we are perhaps damaging the intellectual capacity of the forthcoming generation, and this can be hazardous indeed.
Truthfully, I'd probably be pretty annoyed if standard english consisted of sentences like, "ru goin 2 the store 2morrow?".... I mean.... It strikes me as a completely inferior, even unintelligent, way of communicating. At the same time, English is a changing language... just deal with it already.
I don't think the language itself is being hurt. I think that the student's education levels are. Teachers have to spend more time going over and correcting the grammar errors. This means they have less time to teach and cover other items.
There's no easy answer to this problem. Texting has become a very popular--and very successful--way for quick communications. The point is to condense your message so that you can increase your texting speed. Texting isn't supposed to be grammatically correct. The problem is that the younger generations don't realize this. Maybe in the future, (because let's face it, first graders will all have cell phones soon...) teachers can have send send grammar homework in the form of text messages. Then they could learn and use proper English!
It is obviously very similar to the whole topic that was discussed about AOLtalk. Maybe the problem is that their not teaching their students the writing and vocab skills as much or as early in life as they should be. I text a good amount and have been for awhile but it hasn't damaged my grammar or vocab in anyway, it has only improved over these years. I think that before looking into text messaging as being the problem, they have to make sure its not the school's or the curriculum.
I think it's ridiculous to say that text message language harms writing skills. The "txt msg" language is just abbreviation in my opinion. I think that if text messaging has that much of an impact on a person's writing skills, they weren't proficient in writing to begin with.
I reject this argument and the commissions report in its entirety. I believe that text messaging is today's modern "slang". I don't believe that it has a place in the traditional classroom. If teachers find that they are receiving a lot of "electronic slang" its their responsibility to have a discussion with they students about the proper place for it and grade their papers accordingly. I also think that it is very interesting that the article reported that 2003 Irish 15 year olds were among the 10 performers in an international literacy study, but they don't report what rank they are now!
I think this article is interesting but it only applies to one specific area within the world it doesn't do a broader study as too confirm that its just not this one area that is affected by text messaging. I do agree that everyone's grammar has been on the downhill curve because of text messaging and IMing where we using an abbreviated speech to communicate quickly to others. Even thought this may have a slight affect that downgrades people's grammar, but i don't think its as 'harmful' as the article claims it is because there are plenty of opportunities within the schooling systems to learn what exactly is correct grammar.
I do believe it can hurt our writing skills if we don't practice the proper technique. If you practice it you will get use to and forget the real way to spell word or use a colon where there should be one or any other punctuation. Also we could separate text message language from formal writing if we really want to. By re-reading your paper or anything before turning it in may prevent the way your writing looks to others. I do make mistakes on my papers from texting or IM's but I look over before turning it in to a professor.
I think that texts are changing our language at a faster pace than it normally changes, but I believe that our language would have a drastic change over time. The English language used in Victorian times is different even from today's language, slang words have become proper use and there have been changes to grammar use. Smiley faces and shortened words will still be able to denote the same things that current English does. (Students should still know proper grammar and a good handle on vocab.)
I think it's a concern, but only to a certain degree. Yes, text messaging is changing the way children and adults think about language but that doesn't mean they can't be taught in the proper way. Is it not the teachers job to show the kids what proper language is in the classroom? I think the problem needs to be assessed and then moved on from.
No, I would not say that texting is ruining the english language but I do feel that it is destroying human on human direct conversation. People say a lot of things that they would not say in person through text messaging. I know like back in high school when i got a girls number we would go into some heated conversations through texting instead of talking on the phone. I feel that without texting I would have had alot less fun in high school thats all I have to say.
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