Is Twitter ruining the English Language?

Many of us see Twitter as nothing more as a social networking site and a way to keep in touch with friends and family, a harmless way of communication.

 However, a debate has erupted as to whether Twitter is having a negative effect on the English language and is in fact straining communication causing "brief and concise forms of thought" (Linguist Noam Chomsky) preventing any real interaction between one another. As well as encouraging a very flattened and worn version of the English Language with many abbreviations, acronyms and improper spelling that many feel cheapen or "ruin" the language and even comment on Shakespeare, questioning his relevance in modern day English as well as recalling how drama students these days are feeling the strain of social networking sites and unlike many generations ago are finding Shakespeare's texts more challenging and denser than ever before. (article) Some Linguistics believe that all tweets are written in such a way using constant slang an abbreviation which has lead them to think that twitter is having a negative effect on the English language; an example being:

 

@Surmee12 "any1 dat u tink is ur frnd is always after sumtin can sum1 get a sincere frend wit a desent mind"

 

Many believe that tweets like this are the norm on Twitter, with constant spelling errors and abbreviations, encouraging others to reply and tweet themselves in such a way to appear like they're fitting in and are "down with the lingo." But there are equally valid examples of tweets that are written with correct punctuation, grammar and in full sentences despite the character 140 character limit that some claim forces them to type in such a way.

 

@Ashley Leahy: "@DBreban How do you know or judge that it is bad policy? Needs to be tested first and proved. You realise we are in a minority parliament? "

 

This tweet is an example of how a substantial amount of people also tweet on Twitter, and in many ways is the complete opposite of the previous tweet. It uses punctuation, correction dictionary recognised spelling and is able to be read and understood as well as abiding to the 140 character limit, contradicting previous comments by the linguistics mentioned above.

 

After hearing theses negative views on Twitter, an outcry was made by others coming to twitters defence. Well known linguistics such as David Crystal spoke publicly about Twitter saying "there is no doubt that Twitter has contributed to the linguistic landscape with new lingoes and also brought about a new dimension of communication." "Lingoes" referring to the new terms and phrases that have arisen due to twitter examples being "Follow Friday or Music Monday" that are popular terms used both online and offline. Although these are Twitter specific terms they are a way of connection and communication that allow Twitter users around the world to connect and interact by these certain phrases bringing communities and people together to bond over the favourite people they follow or their favourite band.

 

 Another interesting comment on the Twitter language is "The language of Twitter is a tool, just like the language of Morse code." (article) This theory about the Twitter language is both interesting and has some truth behind it, Twitter is full of a variety of languages which many don't understand. However, these people from all around the world can converse and bond by using twitter specific terms and general internet lingo that are widely known.  Which if anything goes against what Linguistic Noam Chomsky was saying when he talked about Twitter and how it ruined communication. If anything this widely known language variation is a successful and interesting way for people to interact with one another, and although some may find it putting writers such as Shakespeare to shame, the English Language is evolving and ever changing into a form that can be understood by more and more people.

 

 

By Louise Bull