Text Message Slang Defies Laws Of Spelling
A small Australian study has shown that mobile phone text message abbreviations and simplifications are not ruining our spelling, but they do take longer to read.
Nenagh Kemp, a University of Tasmania lecturer, asked 55 undergraduate students to compose, then read aloud, text received in English and in "textese".
This study was conducted by the telecommunications arm of the Post Office, and searched for terms that are not yet in wide use.
Students were significantly faster using textese to type, but were considerably slower reading the messages back, compared to reading other messages in proper English.
"It’s quicker to write in textisms, but when you go on to read it, it took people longer. As skilled adult readers, we’re used to reading full words and sentences, so it is harder for us to decipher," Kemp, a psychology lecturer who specializes in language use, told Reuters.
Despite the popular belief that textese is ruining spelling, it actually does not reflect literary skills, at least in adults, according to Kemp.
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Jonathan Green, a slang lexicographer, says that some terms and abbreviations come about because of the limited speed and space afforded by text messaging.
He said that the development of this technologically savvy branch of language is a natural part of our language’s evolution.
"What we’re seeing is the influence of technology coupled with current events and, inevitably of the young, who in many cases drive language," Green said.
"It’s focused on this world of mobile phones, these abbreviations are perfectly suited to those little screens."
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