Have you ever wondered if texting is changing the way we use the English language? A study found that 77% of kids have cell phones in school, and they often text their friends. When texting, people usually shorten words, misspell them, or skip proper punctuation. This has caught the attention of teachers who notice more mistakes in students’ assignments.
Texting is more like talking than writing. It’s almost like a new form of language! Every year, the Oxford English Dictionary adds new words, and recently, they included popular texting terms like “OMG” (Oh My God) and “LOL” (Laugh Out Loud).
Some people send thousands of texts each month. But remember, words are not just letters. It’s important to use a spell checker and avoid using numbers as letters unless you’re very young or have a unique style like the musician Prince.
Humans have always been curious about expressing emotions in new ways. Emoticons, like smiley faces or hearts, allow you to share a bit of your feelings and creativity in a simple icon. This adds a lot to conversations and relationships.
Emoticons are like a new language, and our brains are learning to understand them. They help us express emotions in a fun and creative way, making our messages more lively and personal.
Texting and emoticons are becoming a part of our culture, just like famous movie lines such as “There’s no crying in baseball!” or the iconic phrase from the movie “E.T.,” where the alien says, “ET phone home.”
Texting and emoticons are changing how we communicate, making it more fun and expressive. As long as we remember to use proper spelling and punctuation when needed, we can enjoy this new way of connecting with others!
Imagine you’re a language expert! Create a mini-dictionary of texting terms and their meanings. Include popular abbreviations like “BRB” (Be Right Back) and “TTYL” (Talk To You Later). Share your dictionary with classmates and see if they can guess the meanings of your chosen terms.
Pick a short story or a scene from a book and rewrite it in texting language. Then, convert a texting conversation into formal writing. Discuss with your classmates how the tone and clarity change between the two styles.
Use emoticons to create a short story. Challenge yourself to convey emotions and actions using only emoticons and a few words. Share your story with the class and see if they can interpret it correctly!
Imagine how historical figures might have texted. Choose a famous person from history and write a series of text messages they might have sent during a significant event. Present your messages to the class and explain your choices.
Create a quiz based on famous lines from movies or songs that have been adapted into texting language. Test your classmates’ knowledge of pop culture and see who can match the most phrases to their original forms.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
COMPUTER VOICE: Is texting the death of the English language? One study shows that 77% of kids have cell phones in school. They text with their friends, often shortening or misspelling words and not using proper punctuation a lot of the time.
MAN: Teachers are noticing a direct connection between an increase in texting and an increase in assignments handed back with errors.
MAN: Texting is more like speaking than writing, making it almost a new form of language. The Oxford English Dictionary adds new words every year. This year, they included terms like “OMG” and “LOL.”
MAN: 3,000 texts last month? Who could you be texting?
MAN: Just keep in mind that words are not letters. Use your spell checker. You should never write words using numbers unless you’re very young or your name is Prince.
MAN: Humans have always been interested in exploring emotion through new kinds of typography.
MAN: With emoticons, you’re transferring a bit of your creative and emotional self into an icon. I think that adds so much to the conversation or the relationship.
MAN: Emoticons are a new sort of language or communication, and our brains are developing new patterns of activity to decode it.
MAN: There’s a famous line, “There’s no crying in baseball!”
MAN: The aliens are calling, “ET phone home.”
KATY PERRY: I
Texting – The act of sending written messages using a mobile phone or other electronic device. – Example sentence: Many teenagers prefer texting their friends instead of calling them.
Language – A system of words and rules used to communicate with others. – Example sentence: English is a language spoken by millions of people around the world.
Communicate – To share or exchange information, thoughts, or feelings with others. – Example sentence: It’s important to communicate clearly to avoid misunderstandings.
Emotions – Feelings such as happiness, sadness, anger, or fear that influence how we communicate. – Example sentence: She expressed her emotions through her writing.
Words – Units of language that convey meaning and are used to form sentences. – Example sentence: Choosing the right words can make your message more effective.
Mistakes – Errors or incorrect actions that can occur in communication. – Example sentence: Making mistakes is a natural part of learning a new language.
Culture – The beliefs, customs, and arts of a particular society or group that influence communication. – Example sentence: Understanding different cultures can improve how we communicate with others.
Relationships – Connections or associations between people that can be strengthened through communication. – Example sentence: Good communication is key to maintaining healthy relationships.
Punctuation – Symbols used in writing to separate sentences and clarify meaning. – Example sentence: Proper punctuation helps make your writing clear and easy to understand.
Dictionary – A reference book or online resource that provides meanings of words and information about them. – Example sentence: When you don’t know the meaning of a word, you can look it up in the dictionary.
