SMS creating a virtual new written language

Chong Seck Chim for New Straits Times ponders on why text messaging is so appealing to young people and if there really is cause for academic concern.

- "SMS has the edge on e-mail for small talk. Many youngsters are hooked, and have become expert at chopping up the words and phrases to save time and money for their gossip.

- It takes a nimble mind and a deft thumb, to key in the SMS text. Youngsters are ready to try anything. Some pupils in England are now learning Sindarin, the elvish language used in The Lord of the Rings — just for fun.

But what about concerns that that SMS spelling is lowering standards all round? There seems to be some legitimate cause to worry notes Chim, "if you go by the many student job applications ending in SMS style, "I hope 2 hear from U soon".

"Purists may fret about its aberrations, as they did once over bad handwriting and spelling. Now it's the hybrid words, like ResQ and Sureheboh, which bug the conformists. Still, concludes Chim, in the end we should come out all right".

emily | 3:13 PM | Do you speak SMS? |
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