Will email and texting together destroy the power of written language and literature?

Answer

The following are several views regarding this question:

• Written language is a form of expressing oneself in a given language. In other words, it is supposed to express the idea of the communicator only in the form that the language admits and allows. This is so there can be some touch of universality to the idea expressed. English language, for instance, is a universal language; therefore it has and should have a universal appeal in its writing. That the popular and universally-accepted mode of writing changes because of new technologies only belies the importance of these technologies in improving our writing skills. Writing and literary forms, which have been with us for so long, and have shaped our communication intellectually, should not have to vary whenever e-mailing or texting messages. Normal abbreviations should be used when necessary. Writing is still an invaluable instrument of literary creativity.

• It is helping people to write because it's so simple and sometimes it is a lot of work to synthesize words and numbers and that produces thought and creativity which produces more writing.

• If texting and email culture is an offshoot to the cultural logic of late capitalism, or globalization which signifies the commodification of everything, then texting and email is developing a new breed of people who prey on convenience. The effort required for writing is forsaken. Also, there was a study conducted at Cambridge that texting interferes with students' ability to spell correctly, and to formulate grammatically correct sentences.

• Texting and email ARE written language, although they may be very far from literature! It was long predicted that radio and TV would cause the permanent demise of literature. This hasn't been true. Although visual media are popular, more books are being published and purchased than at any time in history.

First answer by Eliesheva. Last edit by Eliesheva. Contributor trust: 954 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 70 [recommend question]