British Educators Angered by "Texting" I say "don't get mad, get
creative!"
by Erin Jansen, author "NetLingo The Internet Dictionary" and
http://www.NetLingo.com
Texting is a new form of online communication. Texting is
English that's been adapted to the rapid fire conversational
style of instant messaging. Commonly transmitted over cell
phones or mobile devices, "texters" use the keypad to type
written messages to each other.
You've seen bits and pieces of it: brb, cul8r, lylas, b4n,
cu@8... It's one of the most popular sections on NetLingo.com.
For teenagers, texting is like knowing another language. Since
it is an online language, it is global in nature and is quickly
becoming a universal from of English.
Given that you must type the messages, shortcuts have been
created in an effort to type more in less time. Shortcuts such
as r, u, and b4 make these text messages look like code, but in
fact it is conversational writing.
It is this kind of conversational writing that is infiltrating
students' schoolwork and educators are wondering what to do
about it. In a recent interview with the BBC entitled "The
Pedant's Revolt" I came face to face with those who fear the
Queen's English is losing her ground.
While everyone agrees that language evolves, there are groups of
highly educated speakers and professors who are dead set against
the presence of texting in schoolwork and who are arguing for
ways to stamp it out. My presence on the program, however,
forced us to look at the cultural implications of online
communication and to look for creative ways to deal.
It is not only a subculture of youths who are texting: 60% of
the online population under age 17 uses text messages (according
to Nielson/Net Ratings). They use it primarily to socialize and
communicate, in other words, for recreation.
It is certainly true that at school, kids need to know the
difference between formal writing and conversational writing.
They need to know where to draw the line between formal English
and informal English.
Before we solve the problem with text shorthand found in
schoolwork, I want parents and educators to realize and
appreciate there is a culture associated with this style of
writing, and that culture is important and meaningful to our
youths.
After all, when kids use text messaging, they are communicating
and isn't that something every parent wants to cultivate? Don't
you want your child to express him or herself? To communicate
more?
The same is true for educators, after all, because of the
Internet, kids are writing more than ever. Isn't that what every
teacher wants, to get their kids writing?
Texting poses two major challenges for the educator. One, should
not be to overcome this new abbreviated language, but rather
find ways to use it creatively.
The second challenge texting poses for educators is solved when
teachers impress upon their students that there is a clear
distinction between formal and conversational writing and that
in class, only formal writing is accepted in the final draft.
The opportunity exists to encourage students to use text
shorthand to spark their thinking process. For example, when
you're writing a first draft, it's all about freeing up your
creativity.
A sixth grade teacher said "When my children are writing first
drafts, I don't care how they spell anything, as long as they
are writing. Remember creative writing class? If this lingo gets
their thoughts and ideas onto paper quicker, the more power to
them."
It is during the editing and revising stages of a writing
project that the switch needs to happen. The switch from using
elements of text shorthand to only standard English needs to
happen. If the text shorthand still appears in the final draft,
it is the educator's responsibility to work with the student to
make sure this writing is translated or converted into proper
English.
"I see it as another opportunity to teach and learn," said a
junior high teacher. Because texting is infiltrating students'
schoolwork to such a large degree, this kind of teaching is
needed.
The fact is kids are saying they are so accustomed to IM
abbreviations (instant messaging), that they read right pass
them when editing their schoolwork. This indicates their ability
to separate formal and informal English is declining.
If educators choose to react with alarm or dismay, or try to
stifle it, or call this type of writing rude (it is not rude),
they are dismissing an important opportunity to work with the
student. This type of response is the wrong response, especially
from the teens' point of view.
I advocate turning the issue of texting into a positive. For
example, establish a dialogue about the evolution of language
and use examples such as Shakespeare's delight in creating new
words. This helps them see the broader picture and creates an
environment of respect.
Teenagers have long pushed the boundaries of spoken language,
now they are pushing the boundaries of written language. It
remains to be seen if text shorthand is just a fad. To me it is
a cousin of the acronym, which has been widely used in the
government, business and technology sectors for decades.
Let's also not forget that youths like the feeling of knowing
something that not everyone knows and sharing that with their
friends. Remember the Internet and online communication is very
real for them, they don't see it as a technological
revolution…they're actively using it everyday.
I challenge parents and educators to learn and know as much as
they do about computers and high-tech gadgets. I'd say the
learning curve for feeling comfortable using the Internet and
understanding the online lingo is pretty steep for many adults.
Whereas for teenagers, also knows as screenagers, they've grown
up or they're growing up with this technology that involves
looking at a computer screen instead of just a television
screen. In a sense they are helping create a new lingo and style
of writing and that's empowering for them. So you see texting is
an important part of their culture.
The Internet represents a new frontier, a place where you can
set aside the rules, especially the rules of grammar and
punctuation, and instead create your own descriptive phrases and
styles of expression to give feeling in what is essentially a
two-dimensional written world. And therein lies the popularity
of the emoticon :-)
Another way to look at texting is to think of it as an accent; a
written accent. Teenagers have gotten comfortable with this kind
of typing and now in school, they're not paying attention. It's
just like with a spoken accent: You live somewhere long enough,
you pick up the accent, and you don't even pay attention to it.
So don't get mad, get creative and work together! It's that kind
of response we'd rather teach our children anyway now isn't it?
Erin Jansen is an expert in online communication. She is the
author and publisher of "NetLingo The Internet Dictionary"
(ISBN: 0970639678) and "NetLingo.com" a Top 1000 Web site as
ranked by Google. Erin frequently speaks and writes about online
culture and technology trends. Register for her "Newsletter of
New Internet Terms" at NetLingo.com
About Author :
Erin Jansen is co-creator of NetLingo.com, the popular, award
winning, Internet Dictionary on the Web; now published in print
form. She holds a Masters in Industrial Psychology from the
London School of Economics and a Bachelors in Psychology from
Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.
Her complete Biography can be found on the site at
www.netlingo.com
