Most Popular Form of Communication, Essay Example

Communication is how society has coexisted since the beginning of time. The means by which communication is done, has definitely evolved. From hand-written letters, to landline telephones, to email, and to mobile phones which include text messaging. In today’s day and age, the easier and faster the means to communicate, the better. John Humphry and David Crystal both take two very different sides to how communication has evolved and its overall effect on society. Whereas both authors have very valid concerns they express, it is much easier to side with David Crystal’s viewpoint. Text messaging and other similar forms of communication has not had a negative effect on the English language, but has made communication much faster and easier.

In John Humphry’s article, he clearly blames texting for the downward spiral of the English language. He states, “They are destroying it: pillaging our punctuation; savaging our sentences; raping our vocabulary. And they must be stopped.” (Humphry) This statement was used in reference to the many short forms and abbreviations that are used regularly in text messaging and other typed forms of communication. Texting an individual, in Humphry’s opinion, takes away from the use of the English language and replaces it with short dialects that only make the users dumber.

He continues by answering the opposition to his beliefs by pointing out that it is argued that the point of texting is to save time, but if you don’t understand the abbreviations it takes longer to figure out than the time saved from picking up the phone. “Then there’s the problem of ambiguity. With my vast knowledge of text language I had assumed LOL meant ‘lots of love’, but now I discover it means ‘laugh out loud’. Or at least it did the last time I asked.” (Humphry) He believes that one’s lack of knowledge or misunderstanding of these abbreviations actually counteract the point for which they were created. It is not faster to text if the recipient doesn’t understand what the sender is wanting to say.

Language changes, and with the growing use of texting, it will challenge the OED and demand changes. The issue isn’t necessarily the act of texting, it is what it will do to the English language. “The danger – for young people especially – is that they will come to dominate. Our written language may end up as a series of ridiculous emoticons and ever changing abbreviations.” (Humphry) Part of learning and implementing new words into everyday vocabulary is what is gained through conversation. Assuming that all text messaging is short, made up abbreviations, he believes that society will continue to decline in their intelligence. The dictionary will become obsolete because it will no longer contain valid English words.

The email has replaced the hand written letter, and it has proven to be a much better means of communication. This does not require proper capitalization or punctuation. There are many shortcuts that can come into play with emailing as well. Even Humphry himself admits to using email and it being the best means of communication for him. It does not mean that every email or text is void of intelligent words and punctuations. It means it has to be geared for the audience. If one is emailing their friend, abbreviations can be present and capitalization and punctuation can be void. If one is emailing their boss, abbreviations need to be void, and capitalization and punctuation needs to be used. Knowing your audience still requires the intelligence to use the English language in its proper form.

David Crystal addresses the article regarding John Humphrys view on text messaging ruining the English language. He clearly states that Humphry is misinterpreting the use of text messaging. David believes that people have feared technology evolution since the beginning when works were put into print. Change is not always easy, and what one does not truly understand can easily be rejected.

The history of text messaging shows how it has grown to where it is today. Text messaging was on the table in the 1980’s, but it wasn’t actually implemented till the 1990’s. It may have started slow because of the rates involved etc. but as of 2005 it generated an estimated 70 billion dollars in revenue. The growing popularity is not by chance. And the idea that it is hindering intelligence is absolutely not true. “Its graphic distinctiveness is not a new phenomenon, nor is its use restricted to the young. There is increasing evidence that it helps rather than hinders literacy.” (Crystal) One would have to be able to read and write to be able to use text messaging. Short form or traditional words.

It may have changed how we use the language, but it definitely has added to the overall literacy. Even though texting may abbreviate or alter the norms for spelling, text still have to be legible or else it’s a complete waste of time for both parties involved. Even universities use texting for communication, however some are forbidden from using short-form, and have to stick to traditional spelling and punctuation. This is because text messaging is the easiest way to communicate without having to pick up a phone to dial, or turn on the computer to send an email.

Clearly the concern associated with text messaging was not valid at that point. “In one American study, less than 20% of the text messages looked at showed abbreviated forms of any kind – about three per message. And in a Norwegian study, the proportion was even lower, with just 6% using abbreviations. In my own text collection, the figure is about 10%.” (Crystal) The assumption that Humphry used was not necessarily factual data perhaps more of a personal assumption. Studies have shown that the majority of text messages use real words in long-form. That means that the sender and recipient both have to have the literacy skills to read and write.

Another very important point that Crystal made was regarding the abbreviations. The English language has had abbreviations since the beginning of time. Even when words were written in pen and on paper. So texting is just a new form of what we already know. Knowing what a word means and the abbreviation is important. Elementary classes actually address abbreviations and long-forms of certain words. It does not dumb-down an individual, it can actually be considered a means to broaden one’s vocabulary.

David Crystal’s final point added the icing to the cake if you would to validate his arguments. “Several of these are so much part of English literary tradition that they have been given entries in the Oxford English Dictionary.”Cos” is there from 1828 and “wot” from 1829. Many can be found in literary dialect representations, such as by Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Walter Scott, DH Lawrence, or Alan Bleasdale (“Gissa job!”).” Abbreviations have been in use for centuries, so much so that they have become a part the English dictionary. The very book that Humphry was defending when he spoke against text messaging.

Text messaging and other similar forms of communication has not had a negative effect on the English language, but has made communication much faster and easier. John Humphry and David Crystal indirectly battled each other with their views on text messaging and its overall effect on society. With its growing popularity, it is clear to see that text messaging is not going anywhere. It is also clear to see that the arguments against text messaging really held no validity. Communication will continually evolve, that does not have to be feared, and it does not serve as a means to make society dumber. It is just a means to make life easier so the focus can be on other important things like writing papers and studying for exams.

Works Cited

Humprys, John. I h8 txt msgs: How Texting is Wrecking our Language. September 2007. Print.

Crystal, David. 2b or Not 2b? July 2009. Print.