Are mobile phones responsible for the decline in standards of spelling and grammar?

Question

Just have a quick look around this site and you'll see people with terrible writing ability. Many people write as if they are sending a text message.

Answer 1

Y do u want 2 no! Maybe people are evolving langaugae, and saving time to live lefe, not check grammar!

After all we do not write or speak as in the times of Shakespeare etc.

Everything changes, words go, new ones appear, technology innovates, and challenges us.

Wot do u think!!

Answer 2

No, my grammar and spelling were atrocious way before I even knew what a computer was. ;P

I don't believe mobile phones are the only component of the degradation of the English language. There is a place and time for vernacular, slang, and other such informal speech, such as txt-ing. Due to the lowered educational standards of our age certain individuals do not learn how to speak or write appropriately according to situation while others simply never learned proper English. However, I believe that most of those who can't zap themselves out of the txt speak (l337 speak, etc), are simply too lazy or do not feel that the form of communication they are using is sufficiently formal or important enough to spell out whole words.

Viva la technologie!

Answer 3

Yes, it contribute to it added the the lower standard of teaching nowaday at school compared to 20 years ago.

On the social level, the sad thing about the mobile phone is that we loose the basic etiquettes with little touches such as: sending a note, a card, a letter etc... disapear.

I very rarely use the text in the mobile and people around me know about it. However, I still carry on sending letters, card and note and I prefer to meet people and enjoy their company than to have virtual friendship via the mobile phone.

Answer 4

Can I be honest with you? I think the answer is no.

I think it has far more to do with falling standards in our schools, and a move away from literature as a pass time in favour of the xbox generation. Too much TV and not enough reading are also an issue. I fear that they aren't getting a chance to develop a full vocabulary anymore as a result.

Yes, SMS texting is an issue, but it has reintroduced writing to some people who would never do so otherwise, preferring verbal contact instead.

Answer 5

No, absolutely not.
First: Writing on mobiles started later than the decline in standards of spelling. Maybe it started with the computer, because lazy typing urges to use abbreviations. But I do not think so.
Second: It is difficult to see, because many more people are writing. People that in the 80's used to avoid writing have to overcome their fear of writing. To be part of the society you have to write.
Compare it with the handwriting of monks. The style has been lost, because writing became more ordinary. But many more people started to write.

Answer 6

No. It’s not the internet. I blame the guy who does not have the initiative to flow and extra boost the mandatory skills he's taught. Even taking the initiative of utilising the spell checker that Y-solutions supplies seems unobtainable to them even nevertheless its precise there (not perfect even though it could help), or working their responses with the aid of MS word or another word processor so it could verify for spelling and grammar (not perfect the two yet extra suited than not something), or maybe utilising the internet itself to be certain their written word! whilst scholars exhibit those comparable attitudes at college, instructors then discover themselves interior the ironic concern of having to "dumb down" the cloth so as that it fairly is palatable for the scholars. And so, the vicious cycle maintains and worsens as scholars supply much less and much less and instructors are hobbled with the help of forces they are able to’t administration.

Answer 7

YES! It really is a big problem, especially when you think that some children who are using this new breed of bad english will become teachers, and will lteach the future children this! aghhhh english will transfrom into something that may not even be understandable by us! As much as i would hate this to happen, if you look back into books written hundreds of years ago and you can see how english has changed and evolved. There is nothing we can do - and should we even if we could?

Answer 8

Yes, and I believe "textese" will reinforce an existing cultural and social schism where those with the ability to communicate well because of good literacy will continue to provide us with the ideas and innovations of the future - good or bad.

Whilst of course, the textese users like the great uneducated of the past will continue to exist on the planet offering no useful contribution.

This division will actually prevent the social equality we thought we would gain by providing education for the masses. It shows that those who can will, those who won't, can't.

Answer 9

Yes! And it drives me crazy. It's crept into emails now and it drives me mad. I don't know why everyone has to abbreviate every word now. I don't even bother answering questions on here if someone can't check their grammar to be sure they're understood and can't take the time to expand on "b" "2" "4" and other lazy spelling. It was bad enough when everyone started putting "z"s on the end of all plurals and forgot how to use an "s".

Answer 10

It's probably laziness. As for those who don't care how they spell and capitalize, I rarely bother to read what they write. If they're too lazy to click on the "check spelling button" they don't deserve attention.
It's different if they speak English as a second language, however, but there's no excuse for English-speakers if they went to school. They still teach English in American and British schools, don't they?