Is texting killing the English language?
Do you cringe every time you see someone type ‘gr8’? Or is your reply more likely to be ‘LOL’?
Do you cringe every time you see someone type ‘gr8’ instead of great? Or is your reaction more likely to be: lol? Text speech has become the newest manifestation of the English language, with its own syntax and set of rules. And while this language is clear to most young users, most English-lovers have nothing but disdain for the new lingo. Is it fair to say that texting is killing the English language? Or do you see it simply as the new stage in the language’s evolution?
Join our debate. We will be raising the following points of debate:
- • Texting is only affecting the written English, which is not akin to killing a language.
- • Acronyms and space restrictions encourage brevity, making people more skillful communicators.
- • Text lingo allows for use of very limited vocabulary and expression, which will inevitably lead to the decline of the language.
Participants will be required to clearly state whether they support each statement or are against it. They will need to also provide supporting arguments to back their stand.
If you would like to join us, send in your requests to readers@gulfnews.com or share your thoughts on the topic by clicking on the ‘Post Comment’ link below.
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