Effect of media and texting on language 媒体和短信用语对语言的影响

四川玉山中学 彭 娟

Technology is getting more advanced each day.Ways to text,media communications,and graphics will continue to evolve （演变）.Language will be affected by this change because we are speaking about a new generation of young people.

Media and texting are not ruining language,instead,they are making it more diverse.Language is defined as the method of human communication consisting of the use of a word in a structured and conventional way.With that in mind,we should not look at the evolution of language as a bad thing.

As older and more conservative language users begin to text,an even more standardized style appears.Some people refuse to depart from traditional orthography(拼写法)—but they still text.Their texts may use quite an informal language,but they are spelled,capitalized,and punctuated conventionally.

Despite these myths about language,and how people believe negative impact texting and media have had on language,the studies have made it clear that the early media panic and thus the dangers of text messaging were misplaced.Language,media,and texting are like “code switching”.You speak one way with your friends,and more formally within the workplace.

It is too early to say just how much impact texting will have on speech.I have heard teenagers say lol“laughing out loud” (pronounced both as “lol” and “ell oh ell”),and omg “oh my God”.

In closing,I would like to just say that language is seen as an art in my eyes.Being able to switch it up whether it will be,in the text,or in a formal essay is a plus.Many of us have grown accustomed to the shorter way of texting through abbreviations such as thx (thanks)and so many different changes that are being made.I am a firm believer that you have to be updated with what is going on in the world around us.

Reading Check

1.Why shouldn't we regard the evolution of language as a bad thing?

A.We should keep up with the development of technology.

B.The fundamental function of language is to communicate.

C.The evolution of language is decided by new generations.

D.Older and more conservative language users are out of date.

2.What does the underlined phrase “code switching”mean?

A.Changing the way you speak.

B.Speaking more formally within the workplace.

C.Playing the dangers of text messaging properly.

D.Ignoring the negative impact of texting and media.

3.What's the author's attitude towards the language used in media and texting?

A.Unconcerned.

B.Doubtful.

C.Cautious.

D.Approving.

Language Study

Difficult sentence

Language is defined as the method of human communication consisting of the use of a word in a structured and conventional way.

【翻译】_____________________________________________________________________________

【点石成金】本句是一个简单句。Language是主语，consisting of是现在分词短语作伴随状语。