(for the first essay on this topic, check out Camille's view here!)
Ttyl. Lol. Brb. Idk. Rofl. Gtg. These expressions are commonly used, but what about in formal writing? Informal text language should be allowed in formal writing in schools.
Experts warn that it could "change the English language" (Teen Writing Makes Teachers :-() but the English language is always changing. Our current form of English is very different from Middle English, which was spoken not so very long ago. Our language also changes when slang words are added and obsolete words are removed.
But opponents say that text lingo could make proper capitalization and grammar obsolete. "Half of the teens surveyed said they sometimes fail to use capital letters or proper punctuation in assignments" (Teen Writing Makes Teachers :-(). Blaming texting for a a lack of capitalization or punctuation is an extrapolation. Students may be lacking these qualities in their writing because of a deficit of knowledge or just plain laziness, not texting. If texting lingo is used in formal writing assignments, then the improper writing should be specifically addressed by the teachers. The differences between formal and informal should be taught throughout school, just like traditional grammar.
Our language is how we express ourselves and our traditional grammar and rules have changed as we have new outlets to express ourselves. As we approach an increasingly digital age of communication, it makes sense that so does our language. Language is a reflection of the culture and in our culture phones are a status symbol and bigger, better phone plans are constantly being marketed toward us, then are language should reflect that culture. Using texting lingo in a formal writing in schools would make writing more relevant and more appealing to the children who use texting as their dominant form of education.
Texting is now a permanent part of our culture and society. To reflect that change, texting lingo should be allowed in formal writing in schools.
Hm, we are pretty staunchly against "text speak" being allowed in formal writing, but these last 2 paragraphs are quite persuasive... You've got us reconsidering!
ReplyDeleteGreat essay! I agree with your stance to a cerain point. I love that you brought up language changing constantly. So true.
ReplyDeleteI think of Language as being like water. Water always fits in its container. If it doesn't, you have a mess. There are many different kinds of containers, all with different purposes. You wouldn't use cup of water to put out a house fire, ya know?
In the same way, language fits its container or structure. Different structures for our language have different purposes. Just like you wouldn't put out the fire with a cup of water, you wouldn't send an essay assignment in a tweet, ya know?
There is a place for formal writing and a place for informal writing, and neither one is wrong, but they have different purposes!
In that sense, the language has to make sense to the audience. The only time informal language doesn't work is if there is a disconnect in the writer to the reader.
I loved reading this! Great job!
-Mr. Steile