Researchers back teens’ use of message shortforms
Text language is ‘linguistic renaissance’
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Far from undermining our ability to communicate, teenage text message shorthand represents a “linguistic renaissance”, say researchers.
E-mail and mobiles have bred a whole lexicon of abbreviations, truncated words and acronyms that can be used to swap instant messages.
Mostly it is young people whose e-vocabulary is punctuated with cryptic short forms such as OMG (oh my God), GR8 2 CU (great to see you) and GALHER (get a load of her).
Parents and teachers have voiced concern that instant messaging (IM) is making youngsters lazy and less adept at language.
But two researchers from Toronto University in Canada disagree.
Dr Sali Tagliamonte and linguist Derek Denis believe texting shortforms actually represent “an expansive new linguistic renaissance”.
They say instant messaging allows teenagers to deploy a “robust mix” of colloquial and formal language.
This lets them steer between risking disapproval from those in authority for using slang or swear words, and the scorn of their friends for sounding too “straight”.
Dr Tagliamonte said: “Everybody thinks kids are ruining their language by using instant messaging but these teens’ messaging shows them expressing themselves flexibly through all registers.
“They actually show an extremely lucid command of the language. We shouldn’t worry.”
The research is highlighted in New Scientist magazine.
Mr Denis and Dr Tagliamonte analysed more than 1million text message words and 250,000 spoken words produced by 72 Toronto teenagers aged 15-20.
They compared how the youngsters used language in speech with how they used it in text messages.
The study found that, while IM language did mirror colloquial speech patterns, it also incorporated formal writing rules which teachers would probably approve of.
For example, teenagers were more likely to use the phrase “He was like ‘what’s up?”’ than “He said: ‘what’s up?”’ when speaking. But the opposite was true when they were text messaging.
