How often do you see a text with perfect punctuation, capitalisation and grammar? Those things seem to be thrown out the window when it comes to texts, after all nobody wants to spend their time meticulously wording their six-worded text, when the receiver will probably spare it no more than a cursory glance. Adding in a few abbreviations or cutting off a few letters from the words will spare you a fraction of time, and is perfectly fine, besides it’s just an informal conversation, being a bit messy with your communication won’t make a difference. But when this habit moves over to written work and everyday language, it becomes an issue. This happens mainly in schools, where young students are susceptible to being influenced by media and internet slang, and start to pick up on words that they end up using in their school work.
The actual problem may not be that the student uses text slang, but when they use it. The shortcuts that are norms in texting a friend won’t be fitting in English essays. Most, if not all students, will be familiar with text slang, but the better-performing students will have learnt to shift between the different types of language to the one that is most relevant to their situation. Learning where internet and text slang is appropriate can make the difference. Educating students on the proper use of language in school is important, it should be made clear what is expected of them in their writing. If a student is heavily exposed to media and online communication, more than they are to their academic material, they’re probably likely to misuse slang words. This language would be considered unprofessional when they grow up, so it’s important they know how to communicate formally. Text slang, when misused, can be detrimental to a student’s speaking and writing skills, especially in school.
Having said this, I do not think text slang is inherently bad. It is just an easier, quicker way of communicating with our peers or in other informal discussions. Given that the text slang stays in texts, it’s harmless. However, with students nowadays dedicating more time on the internet, they inevitably grow accustomed to the language used and using it themselves becomes a habit. To balance our exposure with the internet slang, an incredibly beneficial and entertaining way any student can improve their vocabulary, writing and reading skills is through books. Students who feel as though they need to improve their English or language skills should be encouraged to read more, and practice their writing as well.
