Introduction:
At every corner across streets
and corridors of educational institutions, we find teenagers using mobile
phones. If we see them clearly they are actually texting to some of their
friends, relatives or family members. Since texting has become the easiest way
of communication people have started using short language instead of complete
proper sentences. This proves that about 95% of the teenagers are involved in
texting most of the time. If we see the log history carefully of a teenager we
may find that text messages are 3x more than phone calls. Mobile phones are one of the greatest
technologies but its excessive use has increased negative affects on literacy.
This doesn’t mean that texting is extremely bad but its excessive use has
decreased writing and communication skills. I am presenting my own ideas about
social life and the impact of using text messaging for communication on our
lives daily through synthesis essay where I have used two sources to get
evidence and proof to my statement. My thesis statement of this essay is, “Text
messaging affects teen literacy”. The
purpose of this study is to discuss about the text messaging effects on
literacy observed in the UAE. To know how text messages have increased
grammatical errors.
Background:
Text messaging became popular by a student who worked in
Nokia Corporation and found this to be the easiest way of quick communication
without waiting for a longer period of time. With increased exposure, people
started to use text messaging for delivering all kind of messages amongst their
social circle. Texting has different kinds of effects on literacy depending
upon its usage.
Poor Verbal Skills:
Previously it has been seen that students were most affected
by text messaging. Evidence based on previous studies explains that students
who text more than those who do not text have poor grammatical knowledge. They
faced more spelling errors and failed to have proper verbal skills. It was
investigated that teenagers used short words in text to save time and can also
communicate. Over usage of short languages has decreased the ability of proper
sentence structuring during examinations and in assignments. It was also seen
that teenagers who had good knowledge about various topics due to reading failed
to answer questions verbally. In text messages they can explain things more
easily and conveniently. Verbal skills were being affected due to “textism” and
the reason was diminished confidence to speak in front of people (Houser, 2005) . If we see the young generation
with our own eyes, conventional communication of our young generation is very
poor as compared to message composing, which was very quick without any pause
or error.
Effect on writing skills:
Writing skills are often groomed when repetitively practiced
but it is seen that teenagers who were involved in text messaging do not enjoy
writing by hand. As a result their writing speed is much less than others and
their handwriting is quite dirty. On the other hand it is also seen that
spelling mistakes are very common even of simple widely used words.
Communication:
The reason for enhanced use of text messaging is quick and
easy communication without involving deep and intense explanation. Mostly people
prefer to stay quiet and still deliver their thoughts. For those people text
messaging became an ideal source of delivering messages. The most beneficial
advantage of text messaging is to inform people about various events as quickly
as possible. But this immediate and prolonged use of text messaging has reduced
the power to speak and explain things verbally. Slowly and gradually this
affects English-speaking tendency. Due to which students applying for studies
abroad where English is the first language are rejected due to poor grammar
knowledge.
Weak Vocabulary:
Most often it has been seen that
teenagers use short familiar words. This has affected their vocabulary. Poor
vocabulary affects literacy badly (Niaz, 2015) .
Students often feel incomplete of proper words to complete their sentences
while speaking. This is seen in 90% of the cases where students know the answer
and understand different theories but due to lack of vocabulary and speaking
skills are not able to score good marks. These mistakes are generally known as
mistakes in English transcription.
Phonetic Language:
Phonetic language has decreased the
ability of teenagers to distinguish between formal and informal context. Since,
text include particular limitation of characters therefore, teenagers are
habitual of reducing context. This habit develops from time to time and as a
result their mind become compacted due to which they are not able to elaborate
definitions, theories and procedures when asked during class activities (Keats, 2014) .
Many people say that textism doesn’t affect negatively
because it is an advantage of transferring message to people rapidly. If we see
the issue critically we can see that text messaging is obliterating the mind
and restricted the capability of teenagers. Since, shortcuts become habitual
individuals none of them is interested in listening or writing long lectures in
class and often get bored. Literacy rate is being affected badly due to textism
diverting the minds of teenagers and limiting vocabulary.
Proposal:
Texting has been proven the most used communication style
because it is considered easier than explaining through speaking. The thesis
statement is, text messaging affects literacy, because from the evidences of previous
studies it has been proven that students have lost the skill of collaboration,
interaction and proper grammar use. 90% of the teenage population is found
using cell phones for texting friends and even colleagues for various purposes.
This has decreased interaction and increased use of slang words and short
languages. Text messaging affects the mind and also affects the learning
patterns. Students are being interested in shortcuts due to which spelling
errors are increasing with limited vocabulary knowledge.
My research is on the effects of text messaging on literacy
and teenagers of the UAE are made participants of this research. I believe that
my research is effective in understanding the negative aspects of text messaging.
I will do this research using a questionnaire and teenagers will be asked to
answer them.
References:
Houser, P. T.
(2005, May). Using mobile phones in English education in Japan . Retrieved from
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365- 2729.2005.00129.x/abstract
Keats, W.
(2014). The Effects of Text Messaging on Students’ Literacy .
Retrieved from http://www.ecu.edu/cs-lib/awards/upload/W-Keats-2014-First-Place.pdf
Niaz, A.
(2015, Nov 26). ‘Is texting and CMC detrimental to literacy?’ .
Retrieved from https://languagedebates.wordpress.com/category/text-messaging-and-literacy/
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