Is Texting Ruining the English Language? [Infographic]
Educators debate the effect of text messaging on the English language.
Mom was right, it’s not what you say, but how you say it. And today’s students prefer to say it through text messaging.
A new infographic released by OnlineSchools.com explores whether the widespread practice of abbreviated messaging is proof that the future of the English language is changing.
Communicating through text messaging has become so popular that the Oxford English Dictionary now includes “textish” terms, such as LOL (laugh out loud), OMG (oh my God) and TMI (too much information), making them an official part of the English language. OMG, we’ve sure come a long way from the Queen’s English!
Text messaging is a common method of communication for students: 97 percent of young adults who own a cell phone text on a daily basis. Since young adults send an average of 109.5 text messages a day, it is no surprise that texting slang has found its way into the classroom.
The effect of texting on grammar has been highly debated by educators.
One study of “Generation Txt” students showed that scores on grammar assessment tests decreased as text-speak use increased. However, a separate British study of students ages 8–12 discovered a link between text messages and high performance on standardized spelling tests.
It is uncertain whether text messaging has doomed the future of the English language, but one thing is for sure: Students will continue to text.