Convenient, easy and time conserving. This, is Text Lingo and Acronyms. Admittedly, I too use these shorthands in minimal levels. However, the same seems to have affected the grammatical development of society's youth. Reading comments from http://today.newsvine.com, some student and teachers alike express their observation in the decline of proper grammar in thesis and written work wherein inserts of computer shorthands are used by students under the assumption that it has become an acceptable form in literary work. Now, the catalytic reaction takes its toll in Text Lingos using numeric substitutions for letters, words and sentences. Has the ease of these conveniences started taking control in the minds of our young? What will happen to literacy? Are we moving backward?
For many, admittedly or not, there is a part that seems uncomfortable with the thought of their children being left behind among pierce of having the latest tech gadgets. How many of us have heard "My friend has a laptop" after a few months, "My friend has an Ipod" a few weeks after, "my friend has an Iphone". Will giving our children these tools of technology pave a path for skill advancement at the age where literacy is still in its building process? A friend and also a mother shared that her daughter stays in her room for hours on the laptop, chatting with friends. Walking in one occassion caught a glimpse of acronyms like PAW meaning "Parents Are Watching" and RTSS meaning "Read The Screen Stupid." Hearing this, my maternal instinct kicked in full gear as not only has it manifested as signs of declined grammatical development but a cunning way to communicate and express vulgarity and profanity as acronyms. Netlingo.com (click link to view) translates a long list of Text Shorthands and Acronyms. Not only that, Netlingo also encourages the submission of new ones to add to their already extensive list. I shake my head as the immensity of word combinations dawned and the thought of something so damaging can be hidden in plain sight.
Quoting comments from my earlier mentioned thread at http://today.newsvine.com, the combined sentiments shared, points that this literacy deterioration is not the school systems fault but the parents who easily gave in to their children's hankerings without making any effort to know whether such allowance would be beneficial at the stage of grammatical structuring. Focusing more on the "could give" instead of the should.
As one in this field and most importantly as a mother, I encourage parents not to be intimidated by the Internet. Instead, get to know and use it for your benefit as a parent in this age of technology. Across the Word Wide Web are useful tools that aids in recognizing yellow and red flags, safeguard information for the protection of our children. Don't let them wonder off in to the Cyber-world by themselves. Be sensitive and seek out discussion forums that addresses the concerns that hovers like a dark cloud. The World Wide Web is but a big library and all that needs to be done, is research. After all, I know every parent will agree when I say "Our children is worth more than the sacrifice of time and effort."
-The Geek Mom (,^_^,)
