In ‘teaching and learning with new technologies’ class, we were presented with the following example of netspeak or textspeak.
My smmr hols wr CWOT
B4, we usd 2 go 2 NY 2C my bro,
His GF & thr 3 :-@ kds FTF.
Before the unit, I considered myself as a digital native in a way, having grown up with digital technology. I got my first handphone at the age of 13 and I started IM-ing before that with programs like ICQ. So netspeaking/textspeaking is something I’ve been doing for quite awhile. Moreover, texting family overseas on a regular basis and being mindful of international costs, I’ve definitely gotten used to abbreviating words and using slang. But looking at the text we were given above, I realised that perhaps I haven’t really ‘mastered’ textspeaking as I had no idea what CWOT and FTF stood for. (Translations: complete waste of time, face to face). Or maybe i just got used to the same txtspk shortcuts time and time again, and probably converse with those who use the same ones also. In that sense I suppose people would have different txtspk language repertoires due to differences in exposure and experience.
Whether you’re a master or a novice at this type of language, I’m certain you’ll learn something new about texting lingo in the following website http://lingo2word.com/.
But what is its place in the classroom, if any? I think it’s perfectly okay for students to use this type of language when note-taking as a time-saver. The writer would obviously (expectedly) understand his or her own abbreviations and slang. It makes sense that one would have an understanding of the English language for such linguistic playfulness to occur. However it’s also possible that textspeak is used without fully understanding the rules of the language. For example, in the context of the early primary years when children begin to write, vowels are often missed out. So what might appear as textspeak is in fact an actual mistake…
I think the bottomline of using textspeak in the classroom is the issue of context. Textspeak may be acceptable for personal or group note-taking for instance, but it definitely isn’t appropriate for essay writing. Appropriateness depends on the audience, which dictates what type of language is used.
At present, I personally wouldn’t teach textspeak as I do believe that it will come about naturally outside the classroom walls.
p.s. I’m quite excited to finally hyperlink- and to wikipedia(!) no less. :)
I quite agree with you that in a mainstream classroom, you wouldn't need to teach textspeak (any more than you would need to teach slang). But depending on the students' level, a codeswitching approach, where you start where the students are (i.e., with whatever textspeak they bring with them) and teach them where the boundaries are and how to switch into standard language, might be appropriate.
ReplyDeleteThe only place you might need to actually teach textspeak is in a second/foreign language class, e.g., in a school IEC with immigrant or refugee children who would need exposure to this kind of language in order to fit into everyday society.
Absolutely, a more explicit teaching approach would be appropriate in a second or foreign language class. Especially if the students are somewhat of age already (i.e. middle/upper primary?) I suppose it wouldn't be fair to assume that they would otherwise pick it up outside the classroom.
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