by Jamie Elizabeth

Created on: April 06, 2009   Last Updated: April 07, 2010

Text messaging is the preferred method of communication for an entire new generation of English speakers. It has surpassed talking on the phone, and even emailing and IM-ing, as it can be done on the move and surreptitiously in class.

Part of the reason that text messaging is so popular is that, much like Instant Messaging, it does not require full sentences, good grammar, or even real words. Instead, plans, ideas, thoughts, and greetings are communicated using a series of abbreviations, acronyms, and distorted spellings. Punctuation doesn't even exist in the realm of text messages.

As communicating is a necessary part of human existence, most children and young adults begin to enrich and expand their vocabularies through the conversations they have, and in earlier times, through the letters they have written. Many volumes exist of the letters of famous people from years past authors especially. As this art falls to the wayside, and as even phone conversations plummet in popularity, the need for an expansive vocabulary and to clearly convey one's thoughts without an instant response will surely lead to a decline in the English language.

Even the oft-used abbreviations are abbreviating phrases that themselves are not proper English, nor even full sentences. For example,

BRB means Be Right Back

OMG means Oh My God

TTYL means Talk To You Later

CU means See You

LOL means Laugh Out Loud

These abbreviations would not be harmless if merely used in text messaging, but for the younger generation, many of these abbreviations are commonly used during spoken conversation. This, perhaps, is the most destructive effect of the growth in popularity of text messaging.

In addition to wreaking havoc on vocabulary, text messaging also ensures a nearly instantaneous response. There is something to be said for having to explain your ideas clearly in a letter or even over the phone, when gestures and facial expressions can't be seen - as it requires that you fully develop ideas or run the risk of your words being misconstrued or misunderstood.

The art of a conversation is being lost, and with it, so is the English language. Languages evolve over time, and cultural influences have a great part in this. Dialects come and go with generations, but so can entire languages change. As a generation grows up learning how to communicate only with text message and learning a vocabulary largely of abbreviations, the English language will be sure to change as this generation grows up.

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