Texting and the English Language

Today I am going to discuss an online video. The video is a TED talk. The title for the video is called Txtng is killing language. JK!!!’. The speaker of the video is John McWhorter. This video was published in February 2013. Here is the link for the online video: 

https://www.ted.com/talks/john_mcwhorter_txtng_is_killing_language_jk

John begins his TED talk by expressing his opinion about texting. He feels like the invention of texting is a positive discovery. He relates texting to humans speaking. In his video, he says that language was discovered many many years ago, and writing is a tool that came after language and speaking. McWhorter said, "Now don't get me wrong, writing has certain advantages. When you write, because it's a conscious process, because you can look backwards, you can do things with language that are much less likely if you're just talking." He then discusses that we do not speak like we write. Our speaking is much more common and casual. Our writing is usual professional and thought out. What is texting? John answers that question. He says, “What texting is, despite the fact that it involves the brute mechanics of something that we call writing, is fingered speech. That's what texting is. Now we can write the way we talk."Texting has created new structures. Saying LOL and slash in text messages have changed the meaning. LOL usually means laughing out loud, however in some context LOL is used to show empathy in text messages. Slash is used to change the subject in text messages. To wrap his TED talk, McWhorter says, " And so, the way I'm thinking of texting these days is that what we're seeing is a whole new way of writing that young people are developing, which they're using alongside their ordinary writing skills, and that means that they're able to do two things." He then says, " And so texting actually is evidence of a balancing act that young people are using today, not consciously, of course, but it's an expansion of their linguistic repertoire." 

When I was younger, I witnessed texting enter the world of technology. It became a new way to communicate, and texting came into the world like a storm. I got my first cell phone, and i began to text immediately. It was one of the biggest ways I communicated with my family and friends. Young people are learning to text and use technology at younger ages. I agree with John McWhorter. Texting should not be frowned upon or be viewed negatively. Texting is a great way to communicate, and it is not running the English language. In my opinion, texting should be embraced. The English language is constantly changing just like technology. Change is constant, and as a community we should be open to it.