Impact of Digital Media on Languages

“Our generation doesn't ring the doorbell. They text or call to say they're outside,” this line is from one of the well-known social networks, Tweeter, which shows how the way of communication has change in this modern life. According to 2013 statistics by Business Insider, in United States alone, smartphone owners aged 18 to 24 send 2,022 texts per month on average — 67 texts on a daily basis — and receive another 1,831 texts (Cocotas). Nowadays, technology such as text messaging has practically replaced traditional face to face communication among the society primarily in young generations because texting allows messages to be sent fast and effortless. In order to quickly type what they are trying to say in text messaging, people are

In the article, the authors reference the infamous AT&T BFF Jill commercial that aired in 2007, when texting and smart phones were just becoming popular. This commercial represents the idea that texting can have an influence on adolescents Standard English when talking out loud. This commercial also depicts the epidemic of texting lingo replacing Standard English that many people at the time feared. There were multiple receptions of the commercial exemplified in this article. The authors review the comments made about the commercial on not only the comment section of YouTube, but popular news channels such as

This essay critically evaluates media article, “Is Texting Killing the English Language?” (McWhorter, 2013). This essay will examine key assertions made by McWhorter that the language of texting is not the same as traditional writing, therefore the accepted grammar and vocabulary entailing is different to standard English grammar. Thus, McWhorter asserts that despite the different grammar users of “textese” have are able to distinguish between texting and traditional writing. In an age of growing concerns within the media about the potential negative influence of texting on literacy skills, particularly amongst young people, McWhorter asserts that there is no negative influence. This essay will critically evaluate and equate these key assertions

We as a society are evolving with each generation to come. We are getting stronger, faster, and smarter. Just as cell phones are no longer square blocks with numbers on them and TV’s are not in black and white, writing itself has also evolved. Once upon a time many wrote and spoke in a Shakespearean form of language and over the years it has evolved into something we call modern English. In recent years, technology has advanced greatly and cell phones have become one of our primary use of communication. With cell phones came a new form of writing called text messaging. Text messaging is used to send short, concise messages to anyone around the world. Often times text messages involve the use of abbreviations which stand for different things and also involves frequent use of emoji’s as a form of expression. This form of writing is now considered informal writing and is not acceptable in academic settings. In Michaela Cullington’s essay “Does Texting Affect Writing?” she touches on both sides of whether texting is hindering students writing or if it’s actually having a positive effect. She then makes is clear that she believes most students are educated enough to know when text speak is appropriate and when it’s not so therefore it has no effect on students. Although, I agree with her thesis, she lacks credibility due to her insufficient evidence. In addition, I also believe

Firstly, students are not getting enough practice in writing and it is taking away their ability to write. In Source G, Clive Thompson mentions “Facebook encourages narcissistic blabbering, video and PowerPoint have replaced carefully crafted essays.” (Source G). Since schools have switched over to more of an engaging learning environment, rather than formal essay writing, students are not getting enough writing practice which results in poor understanding of the English language. Secondly, teens are misusing the English language via texting, social statuses, blogs, etc. In Source G, Clive Thompson states “texting has dehydrated language into ‘bleak, bald, sad shorthand’…An age of illiteracy is at hand, right?” (Source G). Thompson believes teens are slowly drifting away from the formal English language and are creating their own shorthand meanings. This highly emphasizes how the younger generation is misusing the English language and it is taking away their ability to formally write and they are falsely practicing the English language. Thus, technology is taking away one’s ability to write formally and acknowledge the roots of the English

Over the year’s technology has evolved drastically. Technology that involves social media play a huge role in the way people interacts with one another especially when it comes to grammar. Most people communicate using their computers, mobile device or tablets. As technology is changing so has the language. Social media is one of the main forms of communicating with people. Sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Youtube are major social media outlets that are used daily to communicate with individuals near or far. It has formed language using mainly acronyms and emojis (pictures). Emojis has become popular in the past few

Facebook encourages narcissistic blabbering, video and PowerPoint have replaced carefully crafted essays, and texting has dehydrated language into “bleak, bald, sad shorthand” (as University College of London English professor John Sutherland has moaned).” (Source 7) this quote says that technology is to blame for kids today not being able to write, and she uses Facebook and texting as an example. My opinion, I think he’s right because we use different types of speech while doing or talking or even making a status because we feel like that is the thing to do, when it would be easier if you just use this type of speech for everything that you do. For instance, would you talk to your parents the way you talk to your friends, or would you talk to the principle like he’s your pet dog? There is a purpose for these different types of speech but at the same time, I believe that most of the reasons are irrelevant.

“Does Texting Affect Writing” is about Michaela Cullington, the author, comparing two opposing perspectives. The perspective is whether texting hinders the formal writing skills of students or not. Millennials are a population that cannot go a day without looking at their phones so, due to the “increasing use of mobile phones, concerns have been raised about its influence on their literacy skills. No matter if it is sending or receiving a text or checking social media sites, technology has taken over the lives of the young generations. The essay “Does Texting Affect Writing?” in They Say, I say exposes how the significant action of texting and using textspeak, i.e. abbreviations and symbols, may be hindering the writing skills of teenaged students. People communicate using textese to “more quickly type what they are trying to say” (Cullington, 2017, p. 361). Textese is a “register that allows omission of words and the use or textisms: instances of non-standard written language such as 4ever” (Van Dijk, 2016). When these people use textese often, it can become habitual and transition into their school assignments. Michaela Cullington constantly repeats words and uses comparisons and abnormalities for the concerns about textspeak, the responses to the concerns, methods and the discussion of findings on the topic to be analyzed.

Language and communication between different cultures is complex; the future holds many technological promises that will make these complexities easier to bear. This dialect decline can be credited to the industrialization of communication which exploits the human interest of entertainment, which in turn, expands and simplifies human communication. Billions of people of all walks of life have assimilated to the language of modern technology and billions more are left in the dusk. “Media exposure can spread new vocabulary and give people in different regions an understanding of the “standard American.” (PBS) The internet has allowed people to communicate farther than ever before, share knowledge at light speed pace. We feel that we do not have time to type “hey that was very funny” instead we type “LOL” we have simplified terms in speech and have become accustomed to the internet world: speed equals success. Society’s entrepreneurs and astute minds are constantly

As we go along in this generation, technology has vastly improved and changed. With this coming along we tend to start adapting to these advanced technologies. Most adolescents today are constantly on their phones for social media, texting, etc. But how is all of this affecting kids, and future generations? Due to this, it may be one of the contributions to why adolescent’s vocabulary in this generation is diminishing. We often hear and see words such as “very” and a lot” frequently employed. In the novel, character Syme believes “if you have a word ‘good,’ what need is there for a word like ‘bad’? Ungood will just do as well-better because it’s exact opposite, which the other is not” (Orwell, 55). In Oceania, their language is Newspeak: to eliminate thought crime and to have no words to express themselves. Additionally, the simplicity of Newspeak makes it nearly impossible for citizens to speak for themselves,

First of all, most people can no longer able to hold a conversation without looking at their phone every few minutes. Our ability to conversant is dwindling due to text lingo. As Nicholas Carr, said 1“Just as there’s a tendency to glorify technological progress, there’s a countertendency to expect the worst of every new tool or machine”. As I was walking through the mall one day I overheard a group of teen girls talking and every few words was either “omg”, “like” or “seriously”. Nowadays, when writing to friends common words are often shortened to save time, but what most people do not realize, is that people develop habits and after so many uses of text lingo the actual way to spell the word goes away.

In his February 2013 Ted talk “Txtng is killing language. JK!!!,” the linguist John McWhorter argues against the notion that texting leads to the downfall of literacy among the younger generation. In fact, the speaker claims that texting causes the development of the “linguistic repertoire” and the formation of a new language. In order to do so, McWhorter acknowledges the status quo of the perception of texting among the older generation; texting is the “scourge” that leads to the “decline of the writing ability” of the younger generation. In response to the status quo, according to McWhorter, texting creates an “emergent complexity” of the development of literature or at least writing.

Language is the most powerful tool when it comes to communication and establishing relations. The choice of words that a person decides would mostly likely determine the nature of relationship with the particular person being addressed. In most cases, people of the same age group or level have a common language they would ascribe to. With the advent of technology and the presence of many social networking sites, language is slowly changing to meet the demands and trends in the various social media platforms. Most words are now being shortened or other terminologies that are considered stylish or trendy being introduced. This is mostly common with the youths or the younger generation.

Texting is a fairly new form of communication that has taken the world by storm. It became popular around 2001, and originally had its limitations, such as the 160-character limit. But now that technology has advanced, texting has followed along and is now a convenient, casual, and a more immediate way of communicating. So naturally, texting has evolved also in terms of the language used within it. We see this mostly in the form of abbreviations and short hand spelled words. Some people argue that texting has ruined the English language. Studies and observations have shown that the benefits of texting and cyber speak are much more broad then expected. Textisms have been shown to increase phonology skills, brain activity, creativity and provide a relatable outlet for students in education.

With mobile phones where the small screen technology is so constraining, texting and tweeting plays a significant role in how we conduct our daily communication. David Crystal wrote an article titled “Texting”, and believes the younger generation is introducing a new phase of texting where words are usually represented with acronyms (241). Crystal called this abbreviated text exchange a “textspeak” (243). Kris Axtman is also a prominent author who wrote an article, “R U Online? The Evolving Lexicon of Wired Teens” (247). His article focuses on teenagers and their dependency on the online technology. Axtman observes that teenagers develop a whole range of abbreviations while exchanging