After reading the article about the negative impact ‘text speak’ has on children on the online site, I realized that “Text speak” - as it was called - does, in fact, have some negative impact on students – in this case, the use of it in formal assignments. However, to say that “text speak is eroding hard earned knowledge” and that “children are in danger of growing up with limited vocabularies” due to spending time on Facebook is an overstatement. In fact, I have heard that texting and spending time on social media can have a favorable effect on students. Of course, I agree that ‘text speak’ does not necessarily have a place in academics but it should have a place in student’s lives and can help develop their use of language. This is in part due to the wider newer range of vocabulary that they experience on social media sites and the short interesting articles that can be observed on Facebook. I have also heard that the word limit in twitter can help students use their language creatively and be more concise with their messages, which in turn causes them to lean to communicate thoughts accurately and more clearly. It is also a well-known fact that practice makes perfect, and according to David Crystal, a notable linguistic “technology provides great opportunities to use and practice language through texting and reading posts”. Another very important aspect of this topic to note brought forth by another linguistic, John Mcwhorter “texting is not writing at all” Texting can be considered fingered speech, it is very loose and you don’t focus on the spelling and complexity of the sentences in the same way that you wouldn’t when speaking. Overall I think that although students should be able to decipher when and where to use “text Speak” it should not be completely eradicated from their lives.
Omar Ismail ‘16
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Article: file:///C:/Users/hp/Downloads/Twtr__It_s_majorly_bad__Leading_headteacher_condemns__text_speak__for_eroding_schoolchildren_s_language_skills___Daily_Mail_Online.pdf
This was really concise and it contained some compelling facts for a counter argument; however, when you say that you "have heard that texting and spending time on social media can have a favorable effect on student" What are the favorable effects that it has on students? Additionally, you said that you "heard" was your source credible?
ReplyDeleteThis letter to the editor was very clear, and you got your points across effectively. However, I have the same question as Abdalla -- do you think that saying you "heard" is a reliable form of information in the readers perspective, or do you reprieve it as imputing your own opinion/perspective on the issue?
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