Godwin 1

Maggie Godwin

Enc 1101

Professor McGriff

October 21, 2018

Argument Essay

Many people assume that texting is ruining the written language, to the contrary it is

developing a new way of communicating. Over the years texting has evolved. It started on

numerical keypads and which a key had to be pressed several times to get different letters. Now

there are full keyboards on phones and texting is easier. Although many people are concerned

that texting is causing declining communication skills and damaging peoples use of the English

language, texting it enlarging social interaction, expanding vocabulary, and developing a new

type of grammar and conventions.

Texting is enlarging social interaction. Many people believe that texting leads to

declining communication skills. Graff, Gerald and Cathy Birkenstein stated “Texting is enlarging

social interaction with just a few taps of the keyboard, we can be connected…” “communities

can be created that are powerful enough to change the world” (166). It is evident that Graff

believe that texting is a way of the future.

Texting enlarges the users vocabulary and enhances language. Texting damages peoples

use of the English language. “Crystal, David writes , “how texting is recking our language”
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(899). He shares John Humphrys argument that texters are “vandals who are doing to our

language what Genghis Khan did to his neighbors 800 years ago. They are destroying it” (899).

Texting is a way of communicating like the spoken language and is effective in its own right.

Texting enhances the English language. Later Crystal writes, “There is increasing evidence that

it helps rather than hinders literacy” (901). He also states, “Texting has added a new dimension

to language use.” (901). Crystal comes to realize that though texting seemed to be ruining our

written language it actually enhances it by allowing people to communicate through another

form of written language that is maor like our spoken language.

Over the years texting has developed a new type of grammar and conventions. It has been

said that people who text do not use proper written language. McWhorter, John states, “Texting

properly isn’t writing at all. “The point is that it is not necessary to use proper written language

when texting.”(1-2). Texting is a new kind of speaking it is similar to the spoken language and

has its own grammar and nuiances. Later Mcwhorter states that, “Texting is developing its own

kind of grammar and conventions.” He says how the meaning of LOL has changed it is no longer

literal it now conveys a basic empathy between texters. In other words McWhorter believes that

the meaning of LOL is a new type of grammar (1/2).

Over the years texting has evolved, by enlarging social interaction, expanding

vocabulary, and developing a new type of grammar and conventions. When it comes to the topic

of texting most of us agree that it is a convienient way to communicate. Where some disagree
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that it is a proper way of writing, I contradict because it is proven to be an acceptable and a new

form of writing. In conclusion McWhorter acknowleges “Texting is actually a new kind of

talking”(1/2).

Word Count: 522

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Work Cited

Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. ​They Say I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic

Writing. ​2nd. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2010. pp.167.

Crystal, David. ​“2b or Not 2b?” Everyone’s An Author With Readings, e​ dited by Marilyn

Moller,

W.W. Norton and Company, 2017, pp. 899 -907.

​ ime, Time Inc., 2013,

McWhorter, John. ​“Is Texting Killing The English Language?” T

​http://ideas.time.com/2013/04/25/is-texting-killing-the-english-language/​. Accessed 21

Oct 2018.