1.1 INTRODUCTIONBefore mobile phones, human being communicated
by meeting directly, sending letters or calling from home phones.
Such ways usually made people have troubles for the expensiveness,
difficulties in far communication or emergency and the loss of
information. However, cell phone has improved the obstacle above.
Text messaging (SMS) is cheaper and faster to transfer a lot of
information, even to many people at the same time. They are so
convenient that majority of population prefer to use them instead
of some traditional ways. Nowadays, the usage of mobile phone is
very common in youth. The main purpose for which youth is using
mobile phone is to communicate with friends and others through text
messaging. Texting is so extensively used that as a new variety of
language, text messaging has been condemned as "textese",
"slanguage", a "digital virus".Text messaging has become so widely
used by youth that teachers have noticed a drastic change in
students writing habits. Students are integrating the abbreviations
that are used in texting into their academic writing. Texting is
causing diversion in spelling, grammar and vocabulary of
youth.Texters use deviant spellings and they know they are deviant.
There are several distinctive features of the way texts are written
that combine to give the impression of novelty. The most noticeable
feature is the use of single letters, numerals, and symbols to
represent words or parts of words, as with b "be" and 2 "to". They
are called rebuses, and they go back centuries. Adults who condemn
a "c u" in a young person's texting have forgotten that they once
did the same thing themselves (though not on a mobile phone).
Similarly, the use of initial letters for whole words (n for "no",
gf for "girlfriend", cmb "call me back") is not at all new. People
have been initializing common phrases for ages. IOU (I owe you) is
known from 1618. There is no difference, apart from the medium of
communication, between a modern kid's "lol" ("laughing out loud")
and an earlier generation's "Swalk" ("sealed with a loving kiss").
In texts we find such forms as msg ("message") and xlnt
("excellent"). Almst any wrd cn be abbrvted in ths wy - though
there is no consistency between texters. But this is not new
either. However the popularity of text messaging is leading to the
losing of written languages position. As a new variety of language,
texting has been condemned as "textese", "slanguage", a "digital
virus". People specially youth tend to use slangs and abbreviate
words to shorten their writing and save more time. The outcome is
that language in writing is not in its original form. So it is
reasonable to question the impact of this type of communication on
students writing skills.To get a better idea of the effects of
texting on youth and how much this technology was actually being
used, a research was conducted in which we asked questions to forty
youngsters, specifically females aged 19-25 about their usage of
text messaging.1.2 HYPOTHESIS
Texting is ruining academic writing in youth.
1.3 OBJECTIVESMain objectives of this thesis are following:
To address the challenges, because of the usage of text
messaging in academic writing, to formal English.
To explore the extent to which texting is changing spelling,
vocabulary and grammar of youth.
To describe features which can be said to characterize texting
as a language variety. 1.4 SAMPLEWe have collected the data from
youth whose age is from 19-25. The questionnaire was distributed
among forty females. Our main target was youth and for this purpose
we selected a sample of 20 females from our university and 20 from
different public places. 1.5 METHODOLOGYOur research is based on
quantitative and qualitative analysis. The procedures that we used
in collecting the qualitative information include online articles,
books, and journals. In addition, the quantitative information was
collected through using close-ended questionnaire which comprises
fourteen questions with five options (Strongly agree, Agree,
Uncertain, Disagree, Strongly disagree).1.6 LITERATURE REVIEWIt is
true that abbreviation words of formal English is not new at all.
People have been initializing common phrases for ages. IOU (I owe
you) is known from 1618. At the same time, it is also true that
English language has not ever encountered with serious threat to
its position and originality; as it is facing nowadays in the face
of frequent usage of text messaging slangs in written English.
Along with formal spellings of words, grammar rules, including
capitalization and punctuations, have been forgotten because of
extensive use of text messaging slangs and abbreviations. Language
evolution has been a part of the study of linguistics for a long
time; however it is only recently that technology has become such a
prominent figure within the realm of written communication (Baron,
2008). (John Sutherland, 2002), texting is "bleak, bald, sad
shorthand. Drab shrink talk ... Linguistically it's all pig's ear
... it masks dyslexia, poor spelling and mental laziness. Texting
is penmanship for illiterates."
Those who text message tend to use or shortened word,
abbreviation or single letter to represent an entire thought. Many
texters alter just the grammatical words (such as "you" and "be").
Some texters use initial letters for whole words (n for "no", gf
for "girlfriend", cmb "call me back"). Some of them use numerals,
and symbols to represent words or parts of words, as with b "be"
and 2 "to". No matter in what way the text is written ultimate
purpose is to shorten writing and save more time. But ultimately it
is resulting in the ruining of youths vocabulary. Youth is too much
used to use text messaging slangs while communicating each other
through texting that they forget the real terms. They mixed the
real words of formal English with text messaging slangs.(Learmond
Wayle, 2010) There is no doubt that texting has become the bane of
English language. For a big part of population it is becoming a way
of shortcutting or skipping roung words that should be written
properly.In 2007 John Humphrys said in a newspaper article headed
"I h8 txt msgs: How texting is wrecking our language", that texters
are ruiners. They are destroying English through spoiling
punctuation, savaging sentences and raping vocabulary.
Spelling represents another problem. Some people who text
message rely on their phones to spell out the words. They may know
the first few letters, but the phone does the rest. When these
users are presented with the pencil and paper they have difficulty
correctly spelling and may use the wrong word because it looks
similar, or has the same first few words. Secondly people are used
to of using abbreviations that while academic writing they totally
forget the actual word and replace it with abbreviations like Aoa
instead of assalam alaikum, xlnt instead of excellent.Shortened
expressions lead to ambiguity in writing, no matter what the skills
of the reader, some sentences without proper grammar can be
interpreted multiple ways e.g.; lol can either be taken as lovely
or laugh out loud. Hence, make it difficult for the reader to
understand. In 2003 that a teenager had written an essay so full of
text speak that her teacher was unable to understand it. An extract
was posted online, and quoted incessantly, but no one was ever able
to track down the entire essay. According to Lee (2002), teachers
say that papers are being written with shortened words, improper
capitalization and punctuation, and characters like &, $ and
@." However, something that is not always considered is that these
mistakes are often unintentional when students use IM frequently,
they reach a saturation point where they no longer notice the IM
lingo because they are so used to seeing it.Edutopia, an
educational website conducted a poll regarding the issue of text
messaging Does text messaging harm students writing skills?Almost
300 people voted, and the results were in favor of Yes, I believe
students are carrying over the writing habits they pick up through
text messaging into school assignments. Nearly half of the votes
were yes while only about 30 percent were no. Also, about 20
percent voted that although texting may have some impact on how
students write, its not a significant problem. Together, 70 percent
of the votes casted agreed that texting does have some impact on
students writing. Students who voted yes have probably used text
messaging slangs in their school work or have seen it used. When
students admit to using this text messaging slangs to complete
homework assignments its obvious that it is a problem.1.7
DELIMITATIONS We have smaller sample of forty which cannot
generalize the whole population. Topic was thought provoking needed
more research which we cannot complete in the time period of three
weeks.1.8 DATA COLLECTIONQuestionStrongly AgreeAgree
UncertainDisagreeStrongly Disagree
Do you use mobile for texting?2314030
How many text messages do you send daily?Less than 30Less than
50Less than 80Less than 100Less than 150
1. 1613632
Does text language have effect on your academic
writing?1215184
Do you use text messages shortcuts while doing your academic
work intentionally? 8126113
Do you use text messages shortcuts while doing your academic
work unconsciously? 622642
Do you think text messages shortcuts are destroying students
effectiveness in academic writing?1615531
Do you agree that SMS packages are the cause of destroying
academic writing?814693
Does it irritate your teacher when you used text messages
shortcuts?1216651
Does it affect your vocabulary?717394
Has your teacher pointed out your text messages shortcut
mistakes in academic writing?396157
Does your teacher ever use chat room slangs on white board in
the class room?11831810
Do you use shortcuts like this:
WordsAbbreviations
YouU302341
Take careTc206374
BecauseBcoz264343
Forever4evr1652107
NextNxt236164
Assalam alaikumAoa2032510
Is time saving a cause of text messages shortcuts?1316443
Is laziness one the causes of text messages shortcuts?812686
Question no. 1: Do you use mobile for texting?
Question no. 2: How many text messages do you send daily?
Question no. 3: Does text language have effect on your academic
writing?
Question no. 4: Do you use text message shortcuts in your
academic writing?
Question no. 5: Do you use text messages shortcuts while doing
your academic work unconsciously?
Question no. 6: Do you think text messages shortcuts are
destroying students effectiveness in academic writing?
Question no. 7: Do you agree that SMS packages are the cause of
destroying academic writing?
Question no. 8: Does it irritate your teacher when you used text
messages shortcuts?
Question no. 9: Does it affect your vocabulary?
Question no.10: Has your teacher pointed out your text messages
shortcuts mistakes in academic writing?
Question no. 11: Does your teacher ever use chat room slangs on
white board in the class room?
Question no. 12: Do you use shortcuts like this?
You: u
Take care: tc
Because: bcoz
Forever: 4ever
Next: nxt
Assalam alikum: Aoa
Question no. 13: Is time saving a cause of text messages
shortcuts
Question no. 14: Is laziness one of the causes of text messages
shortcuts?
1.9 DATA ANALYSISAccording to the results, shown in the above
charts it is analyzed that most of the respondents (92%) believe
that people use mobile for sending text messages of which 67%
people believe that text language has affect on their academic
writing. 50% people intentionally use text messages shortcuts in
their academic writing and 15% are unaware of the fact that they do
so or not while 65% people do this unconsciously.Majority of the
respondents are of the view that text language has affect on their
academic writing of which 77.5% people believe that are destroying
students' effectiveness in academic writing. 55% people think that
SMS packages are the cause of destroying youths academic
writing.
When the respondents were asked about their teachers reaction of
using text messages shortcuts in their academic writing 70% people
said that it too irritates their teachers when they use such
shortcuts in academic writing and their teachers frequently pointed
their text messages shortcut mistakes. While some of the people7.5%
were also of the view that their teachers also use such shortcuts
on the whiteboard in the class room whereas 45% of respondents said
that their teachers do not ever use them.
Despite of the above responses there is also a small portion
(15%) who is unaware of the fact that weather their teachers ever
use and pointed out such shortcut mistakes. Large portion of
respondents (62%) think that time saving and laziness are the
causes of using text message shortcuts. According to the results it
is evident that weather people use text messages shortcuts
intentionally or unconsciously in their academic writing but they
do so and it has greatly influenced their academic writing and
decreased their effectiveness in academic writing. The major causes
of using text message shortcuts are time saving and laziness.
Hence, it is evident that text messaging has largely affected the
academic writing in youth. Text messaging has distracted their
spelling, vocabulary and grammar.1.10 CONCLUSION The slang used in
text messaging would not be a problem if they are only used for its
intended purpose. Unfortunately it has become merged with formal
English by many of its users. The popularity of text messaging, as
a result, leads to losing of written languages position. People
tend to use slangs and abbreviate words to shorten their writing
and save more time in communicating. The outcome is that language
in writing is not in its original fault. If this tendency
continuous at a rapid pace, academic writing may be face up to a
real problem about its stand. In conclusion we cannot deny the
threat from texting to the status of academic writing because of
their obvious popularity. Nevertheless, educators and individuals
themselves, especially the youth should pay or attention to this
matter so that we can take advantages of the new language along
with preserving the traditional one.1.11 SUGGESTIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
The question is that who is to blame for students inability to
properly write in formal English when it calls for it? Obviously,
students are accountable for what they write on their assignments
and other formal writing projects but it is the roll of teachers in
the English language arts program to educate students on the
correct use of formal and informal writing.REFERENCESJupiter media
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The Guardian, Retrieved January 10,2012,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/jul/05/saturdayreviewsfeatres.guardianreview
http://www.essayforum.com/writing-feedback-3/writing-email-text-messaging-threats-written-language-6551/
Dean K. ,(2009), Text Messaging and Implications for its use in
Education, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Retrieved January
15,2012, http://etec.hawaii.edu/proceedings/2009/Tomita.pdf
Friess . S, (2003, March 31), Yo, can u plz help me write
English?, USA TODAY, Retrieved January 20, 2012,
http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-03-31-chat_x.htm
Goldstein,et al, ( March 2005 ), Speak Out: Does technology hurt
student writing?, Retrieved January 18, 2012,
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