Does texting dumb down the English language?

[OrphanPip]

I know some English teachers who occasionally encounter text speak in student assignments these days. Luckily I haven't encountered that while grading undergraduate papers. I'll start to worry for the English language if I ever see it being used in a paper on Hamlet.

[Mirage]

I'll start to worry for the English language if I ever see it being used in a paper on Hamlet.

Wait until you see it used on an essay of Milton's "Paradise Lost" THAT had me reaching for the aspirin bottle

Thank you all for your responses thus far, its been interesting.

[Pix]

He believes that I "just don't get it" and I'm being stubborn in refusing to acknowledge change. That texting can convey just as much intimacy and personality as a phone conversation or face-to-face meeting.

I don't know how anyone can believe it that. Useful and convenient at times, and get really get the word out fast, but still not the same. I see the girls (and women) do it all the time, some juicy tidbit of gossip gets out and its followed by a chain of phone calls who want to know more. And people seem all too likely to take a text wrong without tone & face present (because the texter imagines it but the receiver imagines a very different tone & expression).

[partisan]

If we shorten words, doesnt it mean we know the full word to be able to it

Abbreviated speak was used during WWII, in fact because of a german soldier, using abbreviated words on a message, we uncoded one of there machine,

What im saying is txt speak saved the world (i am drunk)

I think a texty can be just as intimate as a letter, if you want it to be. I only really abbreviate one word and that is "about" or as i say "abt" does anyone know what "ftw" means?

[bluefox4000]

It's not just texting.......which I do hate, it's typing and laziness in general. Have you read around the net? It's atrocious.

If someone writes a post that at first glance makes my eyes hurt. I pass it right by.

Mick

[OrphanPip]

does anyone know what "ftw" means?

It means "for the win".

[Juniorlove]

To be honest, if you don't like the way someone types that's fine. However let's not let our knowledge of the English language make us feel superior over those that use it incorrectly. Sure it's a nuisance, but unless you're going to teach them the right way then there's no need for complaining. If you don't like to communicate with someone in that way, then let it be known and move on. Shorthand texting is fine with me, illiterate garbage like "whts gng on tnite?" is silly and lazy to an extent, but at the end of the day it's how some people communicate through text, I'll have no part of that, but so be it. I tend to use "LOL/OMG/WTF/BRB/" and other variations of abbreviations as well because i'd rather my texts be shortened than huge long thought out philosophical conversations. That's what a face to face/Phone call is for. In which you can still pick up on at least verbal cues.

[Mirage]

To be honest, if you don't like the way someone types that's fine. However let's not let our knowledge of the English language make us feel superior over those that use it incorrectly.

I think you may have misunderstood my initial post. I don't feel superior to people who prefer texting, I just don't enjoy it that much personally. It has nothing to do with elitism whatsoever. Sadly I get this leveled at me all-too-often though

But no, I was just curious what other people thought is all. Thanks to the new contributors by the way, the feedback is appreciated.

[Juniorlove]

I think you may have misunderstood my initial post. I don't feel superior to people who prefer texting, I just don't enjoy it that much personally. It has nothing to do with elitism whatsoever. Sadly I get this leveled at me all-too-often though

But no, I was just curious what other people thought is all. Thanks to the new contributors by the way, the feedback is appreciated.

I didn't mean to make it sound like you were being elitist, but I often just get that feeling when people talk down about it is all. I apologize if I offended. Also the title of your thread isn't exactly helping either, but I see that it was just apart of the debate between you and your friend. Do I personally see texting as dumbing down the English language? Nah, I see it making personal face to face communication less important though. Which is unfortunate.

[MisterTinkles]

A friend of mine and I got into a debate the other night about whether or not the act of texting takes away something vital from communication. I feel as though, while it has its uses, as a form of communication, it does take away from a lot of what the English language actually affords us through speaking on the phone or in person. That due to the limitations of character use in texts, vocabulary must be stunted and that its made much more difficult to pick up on social, facial and tonal cues that could enhance communicating if it were done either in person or on the phone.

He believes that I "just don't get it" and I'm being stubborn in refusing to acknowledge change. That texting can convey just as much intimacy and personality as a phone conversation or face-to-face meeting.

I think both of us have valid points, but I wanted to see what others thought.

The "dumbing down" of any language is done BY THE PEOPLE. Technology has nothing to do with it.

Whether on a computer or a phone, or even pen on paper, you have the ability to spell out words, make sentences, and even paragraphs. Lazy people use shortcuts.

Yes, I use chopped up language on my cell phone, but I only do that with long words, or if Im just trying to be a smartass with the person on the other end of the phone.

The difference between using shortcuts and using regular language, is the ability to distinguish the two and the knowledge to realize how and WHEN to use one or the other.

And from my standpoint, there are barely enough people left on this planet now that can distinguish the two, much less know when to use each of them.