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Text Messaging
Text Messaging - Good or Bad Communications?
Is the age of text messaging – with its mix of symbols and abbreviations - killing the art of proper written communication? Or is it actually helping to place a new level of importance on good quality reading and writing?
Some experts believe that the explosion in technology involving the written word – that includes things like texting, chat rooms, forums, and of course social networking sites like MySpace and YouTube – is actually placing a new level of emphasis on the ability to communicate clearly through writing.
Timothy Shanahan, president of the International Reading Association believes the billions of email and text messages passed every day have contributed to a new respect for the written word: “raising the value of reading in our society, both as an economic and as a social activity” he comments.
The practice of text messaging has opened up another interesting development: it seems regular texters are accomplished at switching the tone of their messages to suit the recipients’ style – a skill which has developed naturally over time. When texting a close friend for example, messages become more abbreviated and unconventional. Indeed, regular texters (which tend to be the younger generation) have become adept at switching their written style to something appropriate to the situation, whether it be addressing a teacher or writing an essay.
As well as the ever-increasing focus on written communication through technology, young people also seem to be enjoying a greater appreciation of literature than their predecessors a generation or so prior. Take the hugely popular Harry Potter series for example. Quite apart from the length (almost 700 pages in one case) the quality of writing in the books is arguably of a ‘literary’ standard when compared to other kids’ favourites from years gone by.
Some experts believe text messaging has added a new layer to our methods of communication. A professor at an American University was recently quoted as saying: “What will not change is the necessity of an individual to be able to find a purpose, correctly analyze an audience, and communicate to that audience with information and in a tone that audience will find persuasive, engaging, and intelligent.”
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