As in keeping with the tradition of this Blog, the new WOW word of the week is going to be special one due to my failure to include one in my last post therefore inspiring me to up the antsy a little bit. The word ‘lashings’ is a homographic word that in this case is synonymous with the noun of “Lavish Quantities.” An apt usage of this word could be, “I enjoy reading Joshua’s Blog as he provides a lashing variety of posts that are respectively entertaining in a unique way.” 

The Topic of this weeks blog post; similar to my last week’s post is another creative task but this is time unlike my inspired ‘Kanyesque’ style of language I will be writing a Letter to the Editor. The subject of this letter will be none other than the topic of “Text Speak,” and will be in response to an article published by the Daily Mail.

To the Editor,

            In the article titled “Text Speak”, you have discussed and examined the shortcomings that are formed as a result of ‘text speak’ amongst students.  This case, which is a topic of much debate has been argued with bias affording much evidence to the argument that condemns the use of text speak, while not acknowledging the benefits that have be found as a result of this phenomenon. Therefore as a result of this I would like to offer a counter argument in response to this article.

An avid believer in the art of Text Speak, I myself am a teenager who makes full use of this “Speak” when interacting online or in any other social context. The root of this issue can be derived from the arrival of technology and the fusion between both Language and Technology, which took place during the end of the 20^th Century. Technology has had a positive impact on language; the acronyms and abbreviations of words and phrases, inaugurated through its use over time may be a violation of the various rules that define the English Language however it has further accentuated one of the key qualities intrinsic to the English language, accessibility. This “text speak” which is appropriated to Social Media has connected individuals in ways proper English can’t. These recent deviations of words, though frowned upon do not impede upon communication but instead enhance it. David Crystal, a great linguist was quoted saying, that in order for students to purposefully leave out letters in a word they must actually know what all the letters are! In this way it can be assumed that “text speak” is a tactful extension of the English language appropriated to a social/casual register.

I hope this extenuated antithesis provides an alternate outlook opening up this topic to the interpretation of others instead of confining it to finite categorizations.

Regards Joshua Toor (A Student fully capable of still writing competently)