Kendra Cobb
English 102
Response Essay
January 31, 2017
English 102
Response Essay
January 31, 2017
The Texting Generation
Has texting changed the way you write or speak? In the article “2b or Not 2b?” by David Crystal, the advancement in technology and texting is explained to have effects on English and the way people write. Crystal also mentions that texting has helped students in their writing. Even though texting has taught kids and students how to create shortcuts in their writing, the English language will not change, students’ writing will not change, and the understanding of texting being different from writing will not change.
As the advancements in technology continue to increase, from the telegraph to texting on a cell phone, the English language will continue to remain unchanged by technology. As we advance and grow with new forms of technology, there will be a negative impact on the language that is spoken today. Crystal suggests in his article that “...new technology would have disastrous consequences for language” (Crystal 336). I think that as technology continues to advance, then people will continue to learn and adapt to the new technology that is being created, and the generations that grow up with these forms of technology will still have to know and learn the English language. Anyone who is familiar with texting should agree that the impact technology has will not cause a dramatic change for the people in today's society. The people in today's generation and people who are of previous generations have not spoke the English language in its correct form; that is not going to change. For example, when people say the common phrase, “Where are you at?” this is not correct English. It is not proper English to end a sentence with a preposition. In the classroom, the proper way to write the language will continue to be taught for generations to come. Future generations are not going to stop learning English or speaking the language.
Also, texting does not have a negative effect on the young students’ ability to write in proper English. Crystal claims that “The most important finding is that texting does not erode children’s ability to read and write” (Crystal 345). The evidence shows that children who get cell phones at a young age have higher test scores. I agree with what Crystal is saying. Texting does not have a negative effect on how these kids write in the classroom. The students who know how to spell correctly are also the students who use the most abbreviations when texting (Crystal 345). The English language is always going to be the same. Texting with abbreviations is not going to suddenly change the way we read or write. Proper English will always continue to be taught in schools no matter what form of words are used when texting.
Furthermore, people have to understand that there is a difference between what words to use when texting a friend and what words to use when writing a paper in class. In Crystal’s view, “If you are aware that your texting behavior is different, you must have already intuited that there is such a thing as a standard” (Crystal 345). When texting, it is important to be aware that texting is a different form of writing than writing a paper for a class in school. There are many people, including myself, who use “u” instead of “you” or “cuz” instead of “because” when texting. When texting a friend, the way we communicate is casual, so abbreviations and shortcuts are acceptable. When I am writing a paper for one of my classes, I know that I cannot use those shortcuts and abbreviations in my paper because it is not grammatically correct. Writing a paper for class is not casual; it is formal and proper English is expected and is needed when writing papers in school. I understand that I am not able to write a paper with the same words that I would use to text one of my friends.
Texting has not caused a changed or impacted the way people speak or write. David Crystal explains the ways that texting and technology have been studied and proven to not cause negative effects on students; in his article “2b or Not 2b?” Texting has even been proven to help improve test scores of students. Even though texting may have changed over the years the language, writing, and understanding the difference has not changed.
As the advancements in technology continue to increase, from the telegraph to texting on a cell phone, the English language will continue to remain unchanged by technology. As we advance and grow with new forms of technology, there will be a negative impact on the language that is spoken today. Crystal suggests in his article that “...new technology would have disastrous consequences for language” (Crystal 336). I think that as technology continues to advance, then people will continue to learn and adapt to the new technology that is being created, and the generations that grow up with these forms of technology will still have to know and learn the English language. Anyone who is familiar with texting should agree that the impact technology has will not cause a dramatic change for the people in today's society. The people in today's generation and people who are of previous generations have not spoke the English language in its correct form; that is not going to change. For example, when people say the common phrase, “Where are you at?” this is not correct English. It is not proper English to end a sentence with a preposition. In the classroom, the proper way to write the language will continue to be taught for generations to come. Future generations are not going to stop learning English or speaking the language.
Also, texting does not have a negative effect on the young students’ ability to write in proper English. Crystal claims that “The most important finding is that texting does not erode children’s ability to read and write” (Crystal 345). The evidence shows that children who get cell phones at a young age have higher test scores. I agree with what Crystal is saying. Texting does not have a negative effect on how these kids write in the classroom. The students who know how to spell correctly are also the students who use the most abbreviations when texting (Crystal 345). The English language is always going to be the same. Texting with abbreviations is not going to suddenly change the way we read or write. Proper English will always continue to be taught in schools no matter what form of words are used when texting.
Furthermore, people have to understand that there is a difference between what words to use when texting a friend and what words to use when writing a paper in class. In Crystal’s view, “If you are aware that your texting behavior is different, you must have already intuited that there is such a thing as a standard” (Crystal 345). When texting, it is important to be aware that texting is a different form of writing than writing a paper for a class in school. There are many people, including myself, who use “u” instead of “you” or “cuz” instead of “because” when texting. When texting a friend, the way we communicate is casual, so abbreviations and shortcuts are acceptable. When I am writing a paper for one of my classes, I know that I cannot use those shortcuts and abbreviations in my paper because it is not grammatically correct. Writing a paper for class is not casual; it is formal and proper English is expected and is needed when writing papers in school. I understand that I am not able to write a paper with the same words that I would use to text one of my friends.
Texting has not caused a changed or impacted the way people speak or write. David Crystal explains the ways that texting and technology have been studied and proven to not cause negative effects on students; in his article “2b or Not 2b?” Texting has even been proven to help improve test scores of students. Even though texting may have changed over the years the language, writing, and understanding the difference has not changed.
Work Cited
Crystal, David. "2b or Not 2b?" They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 355-345. Print