Texting....Is it good or bad for the English language and Proficiency in it?
By acevivx
@acevivx (1566)
Philippines
July 6, 2008 1:14am CST
I don't know if in your country people are into texting on their cellphones like they do in the Philippines which has been called the texting capital of the world.And i don't know if they txt in the smae stle or language which is popular in the philippines like abbreviations, spellings and even withoutr any vowels which surprisingly seems to be understood by their txtmates especially amomng the younger generations. My question is.. Considering the way texters form their words in their text messages which are not spelled under any of the rules of grammar and spelling in the English language and the abbreviations used, do you think this is good or bad for the English language and will it help English proficiency?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@intet24 (36)
• Philippines
12 Jul 08
Texting is not a very good practice in communicating because people lose sense of spelling and right composition of grammar. Here in the Philippines, we use text speak just to save space on text messages that we sent so that we can fit it in one sending. This is because, every sending would cost you 1 Peso. So people come up with a shortcut and saving space texting. But this is not a good practice.
@srpkinja (375)
• Canada
12 Jul 08
I think texting is horrible. I have noticed that people will try to make words when texting shorter and shorter. Some of these words you can not even make any sense of. It's insane. Whenever I am on msn or even texting, I will write the whole world out instead of using short cuts. Whenever some of my friends write me texts, I dont understand what they have written and have to reply, "what?". And if they had written properly in the first place this would not have happened. I personally think when you write like that you sound like you are very ignorant. But people can and should do what they like, its just how I feel. I like to write properly and not ruin my English skills.
@acevivx (1566)
• Philippines
6 Jul 08
Texting in itself or SMS is okay and helps a lot in communication as it is economical and fast but i agree, it's how the users murder the English l;anguage when they text. But honestly, I think the younger generatuion does not at all realize that they are not helping themselves in using the abbreviated texting language so popular among them.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
6 Jul 08
I think the practice stinks when you use it to make discussions as the people who do not do this text crap cannot understand
hardly anything in their discussions. write the wwords out in english not text and you will then be understood and will get
responses to your discussions too. you will then be learning enlish language and this will really help you to understand our language too.
@acevivx (1566)
• Philippines
6 Jul 08
So i get it that you believe it undermines the English language, does not improve English proficiency and impliedly insults the intelligence of English speaking people. I agree it undermines the English language and proficiency but as to insulting the intelligence of those who do not understand, well maybe that is not the intention at all. But you are right, it should not be used in discussions especially when it involves those who do not understand their language.
@iskayz (5420)
• Philippines
6 Jul 08
Hi there!
Yes. Texting does affects our english proficiency. It even reflects when we are writing. Sometimes we tend to forget the correct spelling of words. But cellphones is now a part of our everyday lives so its kinda hard to stop texting. Its the easiest way to communicate.
What I do to avoid and prevent myself from forgetting spellings and correct grammars is that I read a lot. I also answer crossword puzzles so I won't forget different words in the dictionary. I also write a lot. Like what I do here in mylot. And when I write I don't abbreviate the words like in texting.
@acevivx (1566)
• Philippines
8 Jul 08
Hi iskayz. That's nice to hear that you are fully conscious of the harm texting using improper abbreviations and spellings can do to your English proficiency. it's good you also exert efforts to see to it that your English proficiency, spelling and vocabulary is broadened through reading, doing crossword puzzles and the like. I also do a lot of texting but i spell out the words as much as possible and its'good i'm a bookworm, fond of reading, word games, etc because it helps me keep up my proficiency in English. Attagirl!
