DBE #3 - The Keypad Solution

Quote: Naomi Baron, a professor of linguistics at American University and author of “Always On: Language in an Online and Mobile World,” shares Crystal’s view. She predicts that the number of “textisms” will stop growing as people continue to develop more proficiency in using handheld devices and as the devices continue to grow more sophisticated than simple telephone touch pads. She adds that part of the appeal of texting shorthands is their novelty, and that that will fade.

Reflection:Spelling reform is nothing new. Complaints have been made for centuries that our alphabet is poorly formatted and impossible to make spelling logical. It seems that there has always been some form of spelling deviation that attracts attention for each generation: shorthand, phonetic and now text. I wonder if some of the attempts are not attempts at privacy whether than simplification. Communication within a generation is often coded to confound older generation. Young people frequently get annoyed at parents, teachers, etc. looking over their shoulders "spying" so to speak on their communications. Once popular and mainstream, these codes will lose their effectiveness at maintaining privacy. While not the primary reason for development of these reforms, simplification cannot always be touted as a reason to switch as often the reforms are just as difficult to comprehend. My primary concern is the written word is often a criteria for judging the writer. A simplified English that is primitive and oversimplified could give a bad reflection on the education of our nation as a whole. So while I am not opposed to kids developing their own text speak or language modification for their generation, I do agree with Naomi Baron, that once the novelty wears off the popularity will wane.


Reference:

Shea, A. (2010, January 22). The keypad solution. New York Times, p. MM22.

Related Link: I was interested in this study that agrees with the professor we saw in class who said you have to understand the rules of the language to bend them. I dont think text speak is harmful for kids to use I just dont think modification to the English language based on fad and novelty is wise.

 http://www.infoniac.com/science/students-proficient-in-grammar-are-better-at-text-messaging.html