Texting Today

B)        Texting has become one of the main ways of communication for most of the US population. People have become accustom to texting versus a phone call or even a hand written letter. This is not a bad thing by any means; in fact if is actually proving how our generation is moving forward. By being able to text someone, you increase the time your message is going to get there immensely. Also, you can take a shorter amount of time to write the text. Which brings up the thought that some people think that texting is making our generation illiterate because of the acronyms and shorthand used in texting. When you text someone, you are forced to type out what you are saying, thus making you more familiar with the keyboard (provided you have a full one on your phone). It takes someone with a clever mind to be able to come up with the various acronyms that are used today, and they are well known so everyone can decipher what a text message is saying. Another way it is helping instead of hurting the literacy of our generation is with spellcheck, or on an iPhone autocorrect. This can help when someone spells a word wrong because it immediately tells you, or will fix it for you. That way you can see the correct spelling of the word and know that the next time you go to spell that word, you’ll do it right. Even though many people think that texting causes too much shorthand or acronyms, I personally don’t think it does. I know that when I’m texting someone, most of my words are spelled out in whole. I don’t use to many acronyms other than the well known LOL or OMG. Normal words don’t have to be shortened and shouldn’t be. I think that most kids my age are the same way. They would rather sound more profound or mature rather than shortening everything so the person receiving the text can’t understand it.

            People are coming up with creative ways of using text language to further engage or entertain and audience. Some are even starting to write books like Xuan Huang, who wrote “Distance” all in text language, (2b or not 2b?, David Crystal 2008). Its nice to see how creative people can get with using only texting style of writing and have the restrictions such as only 160 characters per text. Now though with newer smartphones coming out, it seems as if those types of problems aren’t as binding. On a smartphone you can type as much as you want as a text, and as long as the other person has a smartphone as well you can receive the text as a whole.  Our generation is moving forward and always coming up with the next new form of communication. Whether it be a social networking site, or using your computer to video chat with a friend, there is always a new and exciting way to communicate. Texting is just one way that will keep growing and testing the limits of this generations creativity.