OMG, txt msging is leading to language renaissance

Published on Wednesday 14 May 2008 22:14

GR8! Teenage txt msg shorthand represents a "linguistic renaissance", say researchers.

E-mail and mobile phones have bred a lexicon of abbreviations, truncated words and acronyms that can be used to swap instant messages.

Mostly it is young people whose e-vocabulary is punctuated with cryptic short forms, such as OMG (oh my God), GR8 2 CU (great to see you) and GALHER (get a load of her).

Parents and teachers have voiced concern that instant messaging (IM) is making youngsters lazy and less adept at language. However, two researchers from the University of Toronto in Canada disagree.

Dr Sali Tagliamonte and Derek Denis, a linguist, who conducted a study of IM, believe that text-message short forms represent "an expansive new linguistic renaissance".

They point out that instant messaging allows teenagers to deploy a "robust mix" of colloquial and formal language. IM enables young people to show off what they can do with language, say the scientists.

"Everybody thinks kids are ruining their language by using instant messaging, but these teens' messaging shows them expressing themselves flexibly through all registers," Dr Tagliamonte claimed.

"They actually show an extremely lucid command of the language," he said. "We shouldn't worry."

The Canadians' research is highlighted in New Scientist magazine.