Wanting Your Opinion

OMG, will txting and IM lead 2 bad grammar?

Here's a word to the wise (AWTTW): Instant messaging (IM), which is often riddled with acronyms like LOL (laugh out loud) and TTYL (talk to you later), is not the spoiler of syntax that some think it is but rather "an expansive new linguistic renaissance," suggests a new study from the University of Toronto.

"It isn't this ruinous devastation of English grammar," says Sali Tagliamonte, the study's lead researcher and associate professor at U of T's Department of Linguistics.

"When you look at the total number of words these kids are using in the full spectrum of their communication, these types of features represent a ... rare subset of their communication."

Do you agree that  commonly used acronyms  do not  lead to bad grammar?  Do you use  often use acronyms? Does  it bother you when others do?

Comments

[Peaches]

Well....as a former military spouse having spent more than 10 years in the AF (Air Force) I would have to say that acronyms were a way of life there. I worked at the BFMO (Base Fuels Management Office) during UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training) and we went for nights at the OClub (Officers Club). We went to a DO (Dining Out) every now and then; and we ate at the OOM (Officers Open Mess). Sometimes the spouse went DNIF (Duties Not Including Flying) when he was sick, etc. Acronyms were a way of life. A type of shorthand that helped us get more expediently through the day.

I don't think they lead to bad grammar....rather they can be a very important study tool for kids wanting to do well on tests. Lack of a proper education and poor parental involvement of said education do that all by themselves. Acronyms are a good thing in my book.

And no, of course I don't mind when others use acronyms....if I don't get them I ask what they are, though.

[Mamacita]

As long as the cutesy-code acronyms are not used in formal writing, they don't bother me. I think they're silly, but each generation has its silly language 'things.'

I do think it's off-putting when adults use it, though. I think it's a youth thing, and when adults start in with the ROFLMAO and LOL! LOL! LOL! it makes me wonder about their maturity level.

I don't think I could take anything seriously that would written in cutesy code.

It's not groovy, and it's not right ON.

Twenty-three skidoo, beat me daddy eight to the bar.

[Mamacita]

Many apologies for the really unforgiveable grammar mistake up there. My oral surgeon supplied me with some really lovely drugs today.

[kenju]

I think it is yet another evidence of our evolving language. I use LOL (quite possible too frequently) but it is an easy shorthand for writing such as we do here.

[Virginia]

Occasional acronyms don't bother me. I've been known to use the occasional lol or brb. However, l33t speak or whatever it is is horrifying to me. All I see when I read that is Newspeak. *shudder*

[Mrs. Fun]

to each their own. I use them on IM but not anywhere else.
i don't think it leads to bad grammer.

[Tracie]

I hardly ever use them.....but I have this friend who not only uses them, but says them-example-she says ROFL....not spells it, but says it like it is a word (*rawful*)-isn't that wierd?? Becuase I think it is a little wierd!

[Jennie]

I think it's like slang and if you use slang too much it could make you less sharp, simply by lack of practice speaking/writing properly. I use LOL sometimes, but that's about it, I think. I suppose I could write, "Wow Betsy, that made me laugh a lot!" But, instead I use the slang. Writing on the net peppered with the occasional acronym doesn't bother me none. ;)

[Wisconsin Karen]

I'm not sure about grammar, but I'm thinking that spelling will take a HUGE hit with these kids. I think that grammar was sliding long before IMing.

[Paula]

I don't know. Lots of adults who never were exposed to IMing, etc. as kids can't spell and are terrible writers. My kids text and IM, yet are excellent spellers and writers. Seems to me it's just another thing to blame rather than to look to the REAL reason. When parents encourage kids to cut corners on homework and reading in order to do sports or dance, well...

[Phil]

I do use them to some degree in my casual on-line conversing, and I don't mind it when people use it in that capacity. What does get annoying to me is when the abbreviations (especially l337 "talk") is used in excess. When someone uses the number 2 instead of typing "to", it's shere laziness. Nothing more. And, believe it or not, I have seen people use IM-style abbreviations in professional documents, which is absolutely unacceptable, imo.

As for Mamacita's comment that it's a "youth thing", I'd disagree with that. The current "youth generation" has taken it to a new level (again, especially with the l337), but "LOL", "ROFLMAO", "TTYL" and most of those abbreviations have been in usage since the mid-1980's--before the current youth were even born. I know, because I've used them on-line for about the last 20 years :)

[chrysalis]

It's like any other jargon or sociolect, if you think about it. Every specialized field or group has it's own vocabulary and communication short cuts. We switch all the time between registers: one speaks differently to a child than a boss than a check out girl than a parent.

Dr. Tagliamonte was a professor of mine!! It was great to see her get the press.

[Shephard]

I think all language has forms of shorthand. IM shorthand is merely a way of speeding up the communication to simulate the speed at which we have conversation verbally. I think music and TV are more likely to be accused of being syntax killers.
~S

[wordnerd]

Considering that our language tends to be a veritable train wreck on its own (e.g., lead, lead, led?), I can't imagine that acronyms and other forms of abbreviation can cause too much damage.

[Karen]

The acronyms, I don't mind. I DO mind when people take the time to spell out the word, incorrectly! Rite? Drives me nuts! That, and I don't get why there has to be two i's in words, riight?

[kimbofo]

It's not the acronymns that worry me, it's the shorthand lingo such as 'C U L8ter' that I'd be more worried about. (Yet, I am one of those people that uses correct grammar, punctuation and spelling in my text messages!)

[Wickwire]

My friend is the acronym queen on phone texting. It bothers me when she sends me emails the next day and continues using acronyms as if she's texting.

[Nikki]

YES YES AND YES. I teach English as a Foreign Language and part of that is teaching how to write business emails, etc. It is SO HARD to get into their heads (adults, mind you) that you cannot use smilies and acronyms in normal, everyday use.

For those who liken it to slang and idioms - no, it's not the same. There are certain idioms & slang that are appropriate for formal communciation. It's part of the language. But "C U" and "BRB" or "IMHO" are NOT acceptable. In fact, I do many many lessons on business phrasal verbs & idioms - "put you in the picture" "walk a fine line" "lay off" etc.

I hope & pray that acronyms, etc don't become an accepted part of everyday and formal communication... I see it as just plain lazy.

[Wisconsin Karen]

Well, if you think IMing will hurt kids in the long run, check out my most recent post. IMing won't seem so bad....

[guppyman]

LOL...

IMHO the shorthand isn't the problem it's the complete lack of punctuation or capital letters or anything that tells you where one sentence ends and another begins OMFG!!!! it's like so annoying it's unreal knot too mentino the spelingz of teh werdz and stuf that getz lost when peeps get on teh net

[Sue]

No, I don't think acronyms lead to bad grammer, it's just a way to keep IMing quick. My kids' grammer hasn't been affected.

I don't use acronyms often but then again I don't IM very often.

Acronyms don't bother me but the lack of punctuation when people post does. WTF are they saying?

[L337]

I don't see anything wrong with the sort of IM speak that people use online, as long as it doesn't interpose into their normal speech. That rapidly becomes quite irritating. The advantage of leet is that it makes it easier to explain things and makes it easy for the not-so-rapid typer to keep up with those of us who can type rapidly.