Text messaging has more in common with speech that formal written language. Texting is the new way that a majority of people talk to each other without using speech and formal written language is the version of writing that is slowly becoming less popular due to the growth of text messaging. Texting has been changed to fit in to more of a written speech style rather than formal written language. It has adapted in its ways to show facial expressions and reactions, efficiency and word choice. For many years, there were no phones or technology that could make text messaging possible. The only way that people were to write to each other was with formal written language using full sentences with proper punctuation. Nowadays with text messaging, formal written language has changed to suit the way that we talk in speech. We use improper language, very little punctuation and skip words that aren’t needed for that piece of text. In other words, we have made a ‘new language’ that is used for its speech like style.
Sound effects and facial expressions are used often during speech but are very rare or are never used in formal written language. However, text messaging has found a way to put this into written language. Before, written language had never included any type of effects that you would find in speech such as facial expressions, but at this point in time, these have been added into the written language and are called paralinguistic features. Emojis are an example of the way that these features have been added. Over text and formal written language, you can’t typically see the person you’re talking to, therefore, you can’t see their reactions to your text. Emojis allow you to see how the other person has reacted. This also could lead into hyperbole as it can easily be exaggerated and used in an unrealistic manner. Sound effects can be found in speech when a person types a sound that we make that is not a proper written word. ‘Umm’ and ‘Awh’ are both examples of these. These are not used by a majority of people but when they are, it can show the reader how they are acting and allow them to grasp an understanding of their reaction.
Texting is instantaneous compared to formal written language. When writing formally, every little bit of punctuation and every word has to occur to have the piece of text make sense. However, this is not the case for text messaging. Texting has such a free-flowing nature that it doesn’t typically matter if there is the occasional word missed out because the person receiving the message can usually read between the lines and pick out what they are getting across. For example, my friend during one of our text conversations says “15, Imma b there usual”. Because we always talk about the same topic, he doesn’t need to include more necessary words because he knows that I understand what he’s talking about. This wouldn’t work with formal writing because of all the things that you need to include. This is evidence that shows the speed that texting has over formal written language.
Omissions are quite common in the texting world and are one of the biggest differences between texting and formal writing. Hardly ever will you find a piece of formal writing with omissions because it’s just not the way that formal writing is. As a matter of fact, with text messaging it’s hard to find a piece without it. This is what gives texting its efficiency. A majority of words in the written language don’t need to be there for the reader to still understand the topic. Omission is also used to shorten two words and put them together. For example, “I did not take your pencil” would become “I didn’t take your pencil” and “We have gone to town” would change to “We’ve gone to town”. Without omissions in text, it wouldn’t be the same and texting wouldn’t have the same effect it has at this point in time on the majority of people that use it. It would be like if The Flash wasn’t fast or if Mozart couldn’t play music. Speed is what makes texting so unique and it can’t be taken from it.
During lots of my text conversations, alot of slang is used and thrown into the mix to give it more of a talking style. Slang is used in everyday speech outside of texting by most people and is used to portray your personality to the person receiving. Some words have been made or adapted to just suit texting, ‘lol’ is an example of this. A while ago, this used to mean ‘lots of love’ but it now means ‘laugh out loud’. Either way, this wouldn’t work in conversation. Using lol outside of text would make things awkward because the word is not fit for that type of spoken language. Lol does work oddly well in text though. This is mainly because your not saying it out loud and because it’s an acronym. Acronyms are used in text because it speeds up the process. Speech doesn’t need this help because it is already efficient due to the fact that we can talk faster or slower depending on the situation, this is harder to do in text. Slang helps text messaging on its road to become more like speech and helps it speed up when you’re reading it.
Paralinguistic features, omissions, slang, and efficiency are all considered as similarities between Speech and text messaging. Text messaging has made a new language based off of speech and has taken on board many things. The efficiency of texting has evolved over many years to get to the point that it’s at now, Emojis and expressions have been added to show reactions and slang and omissions have crept into the mix to keep it informal. Looking back through my points that I have made in the previous paragraphs, you can tell that Text messaging has more in common with speech than it does with formal written language.
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