I'd like to know what Dr. Beverly Plester's definition of literacy is... then I'd like to give her a dictionary and see if she can actually read it.
Study Suggests That Texting Improves Literacy
- Thread starter Logan Westbrook
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I would say that Dr. Beverly Plester is completely correct. Children are learning a second language faster than their normal one and that will help with future language barriers. What I would test, however, is how well their aural skills are in txt spk.
There could even be mock exams in it, 3 hours where you have to sit at a desk specifically texting the teacher on a specific subject.
However, given that Text Messaging isn't part of the School Curriculum, this would be classed as an outside course and would be relied upon to be taught after school. Also, given that it's another course, the usage and practice of such would not be allowed in other classes, as you are usually banned from speaking English in a French class.
You would also have your txts marked and have to go back and re-send them if the message wasn't understoof. I mean, it may cost the children to keep texting the teacher, but Education carries a price.
There could even be mock exams in it, 3 hours where you have to sit at a desk specifically texting the teacher on a specific subject.
However, given that Text Messaging isn't part of the School Curriculum, this would be classed as an outside course and would be relied upon to be taught after school. Also, given that it's another course, the usage and practice of such would not be allowed in other classes, as you are usually banned from speaking English in a French class.
You would also have your txts marked and have to go back and re-send them if the message wasn't understoof. I mean, it may cost the children to keep texting the teacher, but Education carries a price.
I'm not a researcher so I'm not qualified to make observations based on others (in theory not many people on here are) but I can use myself as an example of why I think txtin is not harmful to the English language.
Firstly, texting is one of many recently introduced linguistic deviations that have been accused of 'corroding' the language along with rising intonation (damn you Australia) and 'Americanisms' (God damn America). Languages change all the time and borrow heavily from other cultures, countries and subcultures when they do so (English is a prime example of this, we've stolen words from Latin, Indian, German, French, Russian, Greek, Gaelic, Arabic and many, many more), we do this for many reasons (practicality, new technology, social/cultural change, semantic and poetic value etc.).
I am very fluent in both standard English (along with some reigonal dialects) and text English (which I've picked up as I've used things like MSN, texting and online gaming) and I wouldn't say that the latter has impacted on the former. In my opinion, 'text speech' (or 'leet speech' for computers) is just a dialect or division of English that happens to be very widespread and understood, you don't critisise me for saying 'aye' instead of yes and I won't mention the fact that you write in shorthand.
Firstly, texting is one of many recently introduced linguistic deviations that have been accused of 'corroding' the language along with rising intonation (damn you Australia) and 'Americanisms' (God damn America). Languages change all the time and borrow heavily from other cultures, countries and subcultures when they do so (English is a prime example of this, we've stolen words from Latin, Indian, German, French, Russian, Greek, Gaelic, Arabic and many, many more), we do this for many reasons (practicality, new technology, social/cultural change, semantic and poetic value etc.).
I am very fluent in both standard English (along with some reigonal dialects) and text English (which I've picked up as I've used things like MSN, texting and online gaming) and I wouldn't say that the latter has impacted on the former. In my opinion, 'text speech' (or 'leet speech' for computers) is just a dialect or division of English that happens to be very widespread and understood, you don't critisise me for saying 'aye' instead of yes and I won't mention the fact that you write in shorthand.
