Are Digital Media Changing Language?

"Are instant messaging and text messaging killing language? To hear what the popular media say, a handful of OMGs (oh my god) and smiley faces, along with a paucity of capital letters and punctuation marks, might be bringing English to its knees" (Baron, 2009)

I disagree with this statement a 100%. It's a new century! Everything else is changing so why shouldn't the English language change? Texting lingo has been around for years so if it was going to destroy the English language wouldn't it have already? OMG first appears in a 1917 personal letter from Lord Fisher to Winston Churchhill (Allen, 2012). In 2010 LOL, OMG, and the first every symbol, ♥, was added to The Oxford English Dictionary (Lee, 2011). If dictionaries are accepting these abbreviations then why can't we?

This image shows that texting language is everywhere

OMG SRSLY? by Quinn Dombrowski


Real facts about texting:

• Texting helps students read 
• Texting boosts phonology 
• Students know when not to text 
• Texting is a fun way to play with words 
• Textisms have historical roots 
• Texting does not distract students ("Can't texting help,")

Reference List:

Allen, E. (2012, August 7). O.m.g it's so old! phrase loved by today's teenagers was first used 100 years ago in letter to Winston Churchill. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2184777/O-M-G-old-Phrase-loved-todays-teenagers-used-100-years-ago-letter-Winston-Churchill-thought-LOL.html

Lee, A. (2011, March 24). Lol, omg, ♥ added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/24/lol-omg-oxford-english-dictionary_n_840229.html

Baron, N. S. (2009). Are digital media changing language?.Educational Leadership, 66(6), 42-46. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar09/vol66/num06/Are-Digital-Media-Changing-Language¢.asp
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Can texting help with spelling?. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/can-texting-help-spelling