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Studies say instant messaging doesn't harm teenagers' speech

  2. pasquinade
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LOL, OMG and TTYL: parents and teachers worry that teenagers' use of these and other forms of online shorthand is harming their language skills. Perhaps they will take comfort from a study suggesting that instant messaging (IM) actually represents "an expansive new linguistic renaissance."
pasquinade

17 responses // Studies say instant messaging doesn't harm teenagers' speech

  • And frankly, it's not as if typical teenagers possess very advanced language skills to begin with. Heck, the same could be said for most American adults.
    ac
    • ac
    • 2 months ago
  • who could have guessed. . .
    Egnatius212
  • http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-20707916441048...
    It's not like when we speak to each other, we always use perfect grammar and sentence structure, so why would there be a problem with abbreviating words or leaving out apostrophes? I'm less concerned about IM slang than I am about the amount of time people (including myself) spend chatting rather than going and having face to face interaction. Do you think that IM is positively or negatively changing the way we communicate?
    abbym0308
  • Lolz.

    Language naturally evolves and there's always people who don't like the changes. Look at how newsreaders used to speak and compare it to newsreaders today - even our formal language has become more casual and colloquial.

    I find the results of this study very refreshing. Subcultures and generations always adapt language to suit themselves. I think the idea of this being beneficial and helpful for linguistic dexterity make sense.
    richjm
  • IM doesn't harm teens' speech. It harms adults ability to figure out what young people are talking about, and that's why there was such a panic about it in the first place. They freaked out because they felt their control slipping away.
    recommended by  jade_azul16
    crababble
  • And great choice of picture by the way!
    richjm
  • Of course it doesn't harm speech but it does harm the English language when it comes to the written word. There have been studies done where students are turning in essays with the use of abbreviations and IM slang. That's where the worry from teachers and parents are coming from.
    MornRail
  • I'm one of the few odd teens who actually type everything out on AIM and yahoo and stuff, with proper punctuation and grammar. I guess it's just a sign of us getting lazy.
    x_darkly_charming_x
  • ...but it's still annoying.
    Humdrum
  • hey this is stupid, but i´m not english: what is does TTLY stand for??

    help please!
    ddct
  • I agree that it obviously doesn't harm out speech, but it certainly harms our spelling and writing skills. We're one of the worst generations for this.
    Konstantino
  • Konstantino, there's another article here on current about ours being the worst generation.

    I think we shouldn't compare this generation to previous ones. All generations are different. And it just so happens that our generation grew up with AIM. It's not like we're completely damaged... those spelling and writing skills can still be honed.
    pogschampion
  • Thats not true! its just a new style or fab kids get into to fit in with their friends. I think parents are just jealous that they cant talk and understand the trends of their kids generation.
    currentkid
  • It's another step on the long generational ladder of rebellious acts by youths toward adults in their, ongoing, quest to have something that uniquely belongs to them.
    The new Pig Latin. I can live with that.
    huntre
  • I think part of all the new IM slang is that we see IM as a way to send information very quickly, so using new acronyms and slang might help us get a message across more rapidly.

    Personally, I type everything out when I Instant Message. I tend to avoid all the slang unless it really is more efficient, or I just want to add some for effect.
    ultravphunter
  • slang is one of the hallmarks of brilliance. how do people think we got all of the other words we use if not from people mangling & merging pre-existing language???

    im & texting are like modern day love letters like the ones we always hear old dead historical figures used to send each other. if u really think about it the whole deal with writing instead of talking is kinda romantic......
    blackdaylight
  • Nope, I'd have to disagree. Shakespeare used correct grammar.
    Nothin ruins a gd sentnce lk teh tarded grammerz lolzzz
    Humdrum

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