Does IM Language (chatting, e-mails etc.) affect grammar?
Written By MeghnaK on Sep. 5, 2007.
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Increased usage of improper and short-cut language in IM (Instant Messaging)and e-mails has resulted in adversely influencing the grammar of children. Do you agree with this or totally disagree?
I had recently posted an article about this just conveying the message that I intend to study and survey on the influence of this on children. Now, I think that this community can add to it by giving their valuable opinion. Can you please help me commenting on this issue and also vote your opinion. The link to my post is:
http://meghnaspages.blogspot.com/2007/08/im-language-improves-grammar-and.html
So, can you help me by voicing your opinion?
davidhayes
Written Sep. 5, 2007 / Report /
Frankly, I think it's absurd to claim that it adversely affects the language in a long-term or problematic way.
Language had been improperly used by all kinds of people in all kinds of places and times without changing the canonical grammar. What I mean by that is that although improper grammar may be used by certain subsets of the population, it never becomes so pervasive as to overwhelm real grammar rules that will always be required in formal settings.
(I often use big words and broad concepts when I don't really know what I'm talking about--see above.)
pelf
Written Sep. 13, 2007 / Report /
I'm not sure about those whose first language is the English language. Perhaps the increasing usage of improper and short-cut language in IM does not adversely influence children's grammar because you'd have a strong and solid foundation of the English language by the time you are old enough to learn to use IM (or SMS for that matter).
But I'm sure it is adversely affecting the grammar of children whose first language isn't the English language. For example in Malaysia, most of us do not learn English until we're seven years old, and by the time we are old enough to experiment with IMs and SMSes, we have not even mastered the English language! So what do you think, is it easier to learn a language properly, or is it easier to learn the broken version?