I can recall the time when there was a debate about whether “text” could be used as a verb. “How are we supposed to put it in the past tense?” we’d exclaim incredulously. “Say, ‘I texted’? That seems absurd.” Merriam-Webster notes that “text” first became a verb in 1998, and now we use it casually without a second thought.
Since texting emerged, some language experts have claimed it spells doom for the English language. In a 2002 piece for the Guardian, Dr. Samuel Greene, a Professor of Modern Literature at Oxford, labeled texting as “penmanship for the illiterate” and referred to emojis as “face symbols.” He even predicted that texting would be a fleeting trend, destined to fade away in a year or two. “If you don’t text now,” he asserted, “it’s not worth learning: in a couple of years, voice recognition will take over.”
Well, some opinions age better than others, I suppose. I’m sure many of Greene’s other claims weren’t quite so off-base.
Language Evolves, and Texting is Part of That
However, Greene’s overconfidence in his ability to forecast language evolution should caution us, particularly those of us who often say, “kids these days”: Critiques of how younger generations communicate often don’t stand the test of time.
Gretchen McCulloch, author of Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language and co-host of the podcast Lingthusiasm, argues that texting is simply another mode of communication and a natural part of our language’s evolution. She points out that texting has established its own set of rules and conventions, which vary significantly depending on context: older individuals text differently than younger ones, and we approach texting friends versus colleagues in distinct ways.
The focus of communication can differ as well. “The old rules are about rigid grammar guidelines like ‘here’s how to use an apostrophe,’ or ‘this is how you use a semicolon,’” McCulloch explained in an NPR interview. “The new rules prioritize how others will interpret your tone… The old rules emphasize using language to show intellectual superiority, while the new rules aim to foster connection.”
Periods Are Seen as Aggressive — Apparently
Recently, a friend of mine posed a question on Facebook: “My teenagers agree that periods in texts are ‘aggressive.’ Are they right?” After 228 comments, there was no clear consensus, but one trend emerged: young people view a period as the text equivalent of a cold stare, while older folks argue that it simply signifies the end of a sentence.
I send countless texts daily, so I tend to lean toward the younger perspective: I often skip periods, and when someone responds with one, I pause to consider the context. McCulloch also addressed this contentious issue in her NPR interview, noting that as texting has evolved, the period has fallen out of favor. In formal writing, a period serves as a necessary break between sentences, but in texting, the act of hitting send already creates that separation. Thus, for a younger person, the word “awesome” conveys enthusiasm, while “Awesome.” may come off as sarcastic.
Texting Is Not the End of Grammar, Either
In episode seven of her podcast Lingthusiasm, McCulloch tackled the claim that texting is ruining language, especially among kids. A 2012 study suggested a link between time spent texting and declining grammar skills. However, when linguists examined the study, they discovered that the correlation was statistically insignificant and mostly related to grade level, with middle schoolers only taking a 20-question grammar test that did not assess the clarity of their writing.
According to McCulloch and various other studies, informal texting does not predict poor formal writing skills. In fact, a 2010 study by M.A. Drouin from Indiana University-Purdue University revealed that students who texted more often scored higher in grammar, spelling, and reading fluency.
Kids Are Writing More Than Ever Before
And it makes sense! Kids are constantly writing, expressing themselves through text messages all the time. Their texts may lack punctuation and grammar, but that doesn’t mean they “can’t write.”
As a professional writer, the messages I type on my phone differ greatly from what I produce on my laptop. On my phone, where I use my thumbs, I tend to overlook spelling mistakes and grammatical rules, but when I’m at my computer, I automatically use punctuation. My children do the same: their texting is often chaotic, but their school assignments reflect proper spelling and grammar conventions appropriate for their grade levels—and sometimes exceeding them.
Texting Is Accelerating Language Evolution
The more connected we are, the quicker language evolves. Each year, hundreds of words make their way into Merriam-Webster’s dictionary. Our digital interconnectedness facilitates the rapid spread of new words and phrases, with platforms like Urban Dictionary allowing older generations to learn the slang of younger ones, often stripping it of its cool factor.
Texting has evolved into a distinct form of language with its own expectations, shorthand, and implied meanings. In the realm of sharing ideas, it holds equal value to formal written English. Our kids will amaze us with their ability to switch between informal texting and the language required for school essays. They’ll also impress us with their creativity in generating new words faster than we can keep up.
No cap.
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Summary
The discourse surrounding texting often paints it as a negative influence on language, but experts argue that it is merely a phase of evolution. Texting has its unique rules and fosters connection, while new generations adapt and express themselves through writing more than ever. Contrary to popular belief, texting does not diminish formal writing skills, and the rapid evolution of language is a testament to our increasingly interconnected world.