Introduction
Concerns are emerging about the ruining of modern language by text messages and social media. The use of language seems to be compromised by the now increasing use of abbreviated texts in messaging. A feature is more familiar with social media users who prefer texting in a more informal language. The constant increase of phone use among individuals is associated with ruining the language. With phones, most people like to abbreviate many words citing urgency as the cause, a feat that has seen it termed as destroying the language. Besides, there is already fear that such language use may cause problems in the English language. Some argue that text message is already posing detrimental improvement upon the language that is more commendable. It forms the basis of this paper, which seeks to support the use of text messages and social media to improve the language. The report cites several reasons that argue in favor of this point of reasoning. They include introducing words and phrases in the language, increasing desire for literacy amongst people, evolving the language by changing definitions, and improving language use amongst many social media users. Therefore the passage aims at supporting the different ways text message and social media have helped improve language.
Text and social media have seen an increase in the number of words and phrases introduced into the language. Words that were formerly not part of the language, such as selfie, hashtag, emoji, and lol, have found their way into the dictionary since such words and phrases have been used widely and accepted by social media users as a language(Hussein, Riyad, and Ahmad, 267). Social media keeps changing, and new words keep cropping depending on the situation. The terms then gain popularity, and its meaning is widely accepted before integration into the language. Additionally, the words can have different meanings or change, depending on the text and social media users’ preference. A comment like ‘lol’ was the first use by social media users to mean laughing loudly but currently being used to show that the recipient found something funny in the text. Other words such as selfies have found their way into the dictionaries, with the oxford dictionary featuring it as the 2013 word of the year. Later in 2015, they also coined the emoji for tears of joy as the year’s word. They are showing relevancy of the common phrases and words formed by social media users and text messages. Therefore, it states that text messages and social media are not ruining the language, but making a significant improvement as the introduction of new words enriches the vocabularies and aid in naming things that may arise due to technology.
Social media has helped increase the desire for literacy among people. The need to belong has pushed people to learn the language. With an increase in pressure to taste social media, many people, including small children, have learned the language. It is common to hear people brag about their social media prowess, which entices others. Even the illiterate and small children then strive to belong by learning the language to help them communicate on text messages or social media, resulting in many children at a tender age become language proficient. Its use has also been learned widely across the world as most social media platforms use a language. It is then wrong to claim social media have ruined language, as it has helped the language be known far and wide. They are moreover enabling children to learn the language while still young improving the proficiency of the language. Therefore, text messages and social media act as a catalyst in promoting the desire to know the language, which in turn supports language by increasing the number of subscribers to language.
Text messages and social media have helped evolve the language used by changing definitions of some words, as they keep being outdated and need to change them creeps in so that they can conform to the current state. Language use can develop depending on the situation and environment. Social media have helped in changing definitions and even creating new words.
Most words today are heavily linked to the presence of social media and text messages. Words like ‘friend’ have been coined on Facebook as a verb to mean adding a person on Facebook. Whereas ‘Add’ is now widely used to refer to the situation of sending a friend request to connect with someone on Facebook. Such additions have helped diversify the language used with several words to cater to the everyday increase in inventions. Therefore, the text message has improved language use and has not ruined it as indicated by a section of people. It enables the growth of language to meet the current generation’s demands by giving existing words to new meanings that are updated.
Social media and text messages have increased the frequency of language use among many individuals. Almost every individual owns a phone, be it literate individuals or the illiterate. With phones owned by every individual, it is a sign that language is expanding. Text messages and social media encourages the use of language to communicate. Meaning a lot of the individuals who own phones and laptops have a basis in language knowledge. Through social media, people can interact more frequently and quickly develop an increase in the frequency of language use. It’s a standard feature to meet people continually texting even in the streets. Such frequency leads to learning and understanding the terms oftenly used. It then reinstates social media, and text messages have led to increased knowledge and understanding of language amongst many people. People who frequently use text messages or social media can easily understand words and phrases commonly us even if they did not attend any class. Making social media and text message a hub for improving language use.
Conclusion
Text and social media have been beneficial in improving language use than ruining it. The use of social media and text have proved worthy in enhancing language use in several ways. It has been able to introduce new words and phrases into the language. It has also increased the desire for literacy among individuals and evolving language usage like changing definitions and increasing language users’ numbers. Therefore, social media and text messages have not ruined modern language usage. But instead, it has improved it in several meaningful ways. The current language is improving in several ways, courtesy of the constant engaging in social media and text messages by different individuals.