A relative latecomer to social media, I have become increasingly interested in observing how the written word has evolved over a relatively short span of time. From the once formal constructs we held in high regard, e.g. when people used to handwrite letters, to today’s informal colloquial cyber-text, the use and misuse of language has bemused grammarians, bewildered English teachers, and forever conveyed society into the virtual realm of netspeak.
Through texting, Facebook, Twitter and other such media there is demand for word economy. Limited characters force the communication to become streamlined or truncated. This is to say the text creator seeks to craft a message with fewer words than might otherwise be utilized in regular speech. There is a generation gap however, that punctuates the difference in how language is used on social media.
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Polonius in giving advice to his son Laertes reveals that “brevity is the soul of wit.” Throughout the history of the written word we observe the increasing use of colloquial speech and the informal elements of conversational language such as slang and contractions creep into what was once considered the domain of formal speech. Do you recall getting into trouble with your teachers over using ‘ain’t’ instead of isn’t? Good times!
Being in the military I am used to acronyms and abbreviations which are necessary to streamline communication and clarity of message. The understanding with these word economy devices is that while shortening the formal name or title of an entity, e.g. RCMP the abbreviation could still be utilized in a formal capacity. In knowing one’s audience one is challenged to craft a message that fits the requirements of the occasion. A formal paper or essay requires formal language, while a blog or opinion column can readily accommodate a more relaxed or informal tone.
Sadly, it is increasingly more complex for students to discern the difference between when is an appropriate time to use cyberspeak versus formal language. Emoticons on a resume, while perhaps edgy or cute, really do not inspire confidence of the candidate’s writing skills. Speaking like one texts also erodes confidence in one’s communication ability. Seriously, have we not all stood in a line-up behind the ‘OMG girls’ and the ‘like wow, radical LOL boys’ and cringed … at least on the inside? U bet u have! LMAO J
If the follicles upon the grand visage of my dearest comrade were rapidly oxidizing I would most likely say ‘hey, buddy, your hair is on fire!’ Indeed, there is a time and a place for informal language and netspeak. I just wish people would spend a little more time discerning when and where!
Tim Cusack is an educator, writer and member of the Royal Canadian Navy.
