Pragati Prava
While purists are of the view that the (in)formal structure and expediencies of online
communication have diluted the linguistic proficiency of those who populate the virtual world, many linguists and teachers believe WhatsApping and text messaging have reinvigorated oral and informal interaction and facilitated spontaneous expression. Words and phrases, however, that are vehicles of deep and solemn thoughts are conspicuous by their absence in the virtual domain where communication betrays an overall lack of aesthetic finesse…
We write “Sup”, “GM”, “Cu”, “Gud 9t” in text messages and on WhatsApp instead of writing “What is happening”, “Good Morning”, “See you” and “Good Night”. With such shifts in communication trends, it has become a big worry whether this trend of communication and continuous use of texting language will affect the written and communicative skills of students.
With most youngsters and teenagers in this digital age turning to WhatsApp, Snapchat and Facebook messenger to send messages to friends and relatives, the era of the written letter conveying messages and information to friends and relatives seems to have passed into oblivion.
While it is widely believed that virtual communication has had an adverse impact on the formal communicative abilities of students, some experts agree with the results of a study undertaken by the University of Cambridge recently which shows that students are dexterous at shifting from a virtual to a formal official platform.
Sunday POST records the opinions of experts on whether text messaging and WhatsApping are inimical to linguistic growth of impressionable minds.
According to Urmishree Bedamatta, assistant professor at the department of English, Ravenshaw University, “it has been noted that sometimes students do carry over the word contractions and fractured syntax of informal communication, which is common in the virtual world, to their academic communication. At the same time, they also bring to the table a lot of creativity which is a distinguishing feature of communication on social networking sites.”
The linguist added that apps do not pose a linguistic problem. It is just that bad language becomes widely prevalent. Reading good books is the only solution. But students seem to have abandoned reading in favour of idle socialising. Choosing good books requires good judgement as choosing good friends does.
Social activist Anu Lata, who works towards uplifting the educational scenario in the state said: “Use of standard vocabulary and grammar helps in effective communication. But non-standardised texting has local connotations and often mislead people. I have come across many people with excellent command of English. But they can’t understand the language used in texting at various virtual platforms. Thus, it is creating a bottleneck to globalisation of a language.”
“These things have detrimental impact to such an extent that they inhibit students’ ability of phrasing proper sentences. Students resort to quick and short cut ways and this leaves an even deeper impact on their overall personality,” said Anu.
According to JK Nayak, head of the department of English at Utkal University, whenever innovation takes place people tend to highlight the negative aspects. “But, in due course, they adapt to those and start exploring positive things. And, so far as communication through texting and WhatsApping is concerned, the apps are a source of strength rather than weakness. They keep the students engaged and make communication easier,” he said.
Nayak added: “I do not see a problem. Students are multitasking and have the ability to cope with various languages – may be the language of texting, or academic, or corporate. They can move smoothly from one to the other.”
Himansu S Mohapatra, professor, PG Department of English, Utkal University said: “Texting language does not affect formal communication, neither is it harmful. While improving formal communicative abilities depends on the wish of students, texting language represents speed. It activates the latest linguistic ability and takes the students to an oral mode. While most students in Orissa are good at writing they fail as far as fluency in speaking is concerned. Texting language promotes speed and increases students’ fluency in verbal communication. These apps help develop immediacy through interaction.”
“Further, social media supports collaborative learning, which in turn helps strengthening creative learning process. So, we should not be averse to the digitisation of communication. Rather we should be open-minded to accept the change,” he added.
“I do not face problems while texting and using social media. But, initially, I used to face problems when the language I used in texting seeped into my academic writing and even in my examination papers. It was as if the chat vocabulary had lowered my quality of communication. But eventually, I became cautious, and now I can differentiate between virtual communication and formal communication,” said Aparna Swain, a student of psychology at Ravenshaw University in Cuttack.
