Instant Messaging and the Future of Language
The report examines the impact of computer-mediated communication on language, particularly among youth.
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| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Report location: | source |
| Language: | English |
| Publisher: |
Communications of the ACM |
| Authors: | Naomi S. Baron |
| Geographic focus: | United States, Global |
Methods
The research method involved investigating undergraduate use of instant messaging at American University, analyzing language patterns, and conducting online surveys and focus groups to understand multitasking behaviors and the use of away messages in IM.
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Key Insights
The report explores the influence of computer-mediated communication (CMC) like email, instant messaging (IM), and texting on language use, especially among young people. It addresses concerns that these forms of communication may degrade language skills, but also acknowledges their role in linguistic innovation. The report discusses the history of written English and the evolution of language in response to social attitudes, educational values, and technological developments. It highlights research conducted at American University on undergraduate IM usage, which suggests that college students use IM for pragmatic and social purposes rather than as a means of establishing group identity. The study finds that college students' IM language tends to be more formal than that of younger teens, with good spelling and less use of abbreviations. The report argues that while CMC allows for control over communication networks and can be empowering, it is crucial for parents and educators to ensure that young people also master traditional writing conventions. The author concludes that the future of language is largely dependent on the linguistic role models provided by adults.
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Additional Viewpoints
Categories: English publication language | Global geographic scope | United States geographic scope | cmc | computer-mediated communication | educational values | formal writing | grammar | ict | im usage | iming | instant messaging | language degradation | linguistic innovation | normative languages | social identity | technological impact | teenagers | written english | written english history