Does texting positively or negatively affect literacy skills?

1. 51

   I<3MYKIDSposted 15 years ago

   Does texting positively or negatively affect literacy skills?
   
   Text messaging (texting) has become an increasingly popular form of communication in recent years and will continue to grow as more and more individuals of all ages discover this method of communicating.   It is a quick and creative technique of sending messages in a fast-paced world, yet, disliked by many.  There has been much debate about the pros and cons of texting, as well as, great concern regarding its impact on literacy and the English language. 
   
   I would like to hear some of your views and personal experiences.

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2. 61

   dabeanerposted 15 years ago

   Obviously, texting does nothing to improve literacy skills.

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3. 59

   EtselecMikposted 15 years ago

   I also agree that texting does nothing to improve literacy skills, but then neither does the "Phonics" systems many grade schools use to teach children these days.  Both of my children are great readers, but ask them to spell something and they spell exactly the way it sounds which is not necessarily the correct way.  Furthermore, their schools actually encourage phonics spelling when writing in journals and essays.  They will grade only on content and complete sentences and completely ignore spelling until about the fifth or sixth grade.  The only time they're concerned with spelling is for that weeks spelling lesson and only the words on that weeks list and the test.  When I went to school proper spelling was expected in all grades in everything we wrote and practiced daily.  They can still earn an "A", but I feel the teacher should correct the spelling in red pen so that the child can see the correct spelling.  Instead of getting an "A" and seeing all the words spelled incorrectly and still thinking they are spelled correctly. Of course, this is just my opinion and is not intended to start any heated debates with any educators out there that may not agree with me.

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4. 61

   The Power Gliderposted 14 years ago

   Hukt on foniks wurkt fr mi . . . !
   Really though, I'm of two minds on the literacy question.  On one side, for someone who is firmly grounded in literacy and understands that the 'text' talk is specific to that mode of communication, I don't think that it's a problem.  It's when someone who is still learning gets lazy and adopts the shortcuts and believes that this is acceptable in day to day communications that it will undercut the building of literacy skills.
   That's where the real problem lies.

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5. 0

   saliaposted 14 years ago

   -ve effect..
   something i accidently use texting in my essay writing that affect my grade.. careless!!

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6. 73

   cherrycrime26posted 14 years ago

   Since ive become a chronic text whore, my spelling has improved, so I would say, its a positive thing.

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