* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
LINGUIST List logo Eastern Michigan University Wayne State University *
* People & Organizations * Jobs * Calls & Conferences * Publications * Language Resources * Text & Computer Tools * Teaching & Learning * Mailing Lists * Search *
* *
 

Ask-A-Linguist - Message details
Subject: Is Twitter destroying the English language?
Question:
Dear linguists,

My name is Vy. Some people says that twitter, along with instant message and text message is destroying the ability to use correct grammar of people who speak English. However, some say that it is such a ridiculous idea because people are born with grammar and nothing can take it away from us. So, what do you think about the effect of Twitter on the English language?

Thanks,
Vy

Reply:
Twitter hasn't and probably won't destroy the English language any more than
telegrams have. Twitter and texting are related to written English, which has long
had conventions for abbreviating things to accommodate narrow bandwidth (like
telegrams) or time (e.g., taking notes in a class). For example, if I am taking notes
in a class, I might write "fn" to mean "function", which is analogous to using "u" for
"you," or "w/o" instead of "without". But if I'm writing a formal paper, I'm not going to
use "u" or "w/o". Languages have lot of different registers for different situations, and
a competent user of a language knows when it's ok to use a particular abbreviation
and when it isn't ok.

Reply From: Susan Fischer    click here to access email
Date: Aug-09-2009
Other Replies:
  1. Re: Is Twitter destroying the English language? Joseph F Foster    (Aug-10-2009)
  2. Re: Is Twitter destroying the English language? Elizabeth J Pyatt    (Aug-10-2009)
  3. Re: Is Twitter destroying the English language? Anthea Fraser Gupta    (Aug-09-2009)
  4. Re: Is Twitter destroying the English language? Charley Rowe    (Aug-09-2009)
Back to Most Recent Questions
Page Updated: 25-Nov-2009

Please report any bad links or misclassified data

LINGUIST Homepage | Read LINGUIST | Contact us

NSF Logo

While the LINGUIST List makes every effort to ensure the linguistic relevance of sites listed
on its pages, it cannot vouch for their contents.