they know the difference

I read the article, “Is Chatspeak Destroying English?” and found that both sides of the issue rang true for me. I do think there is a danger in chatspeak if students don’t know the difference of when to use it and when not to use it. I think that students may be learning a second language in a sense and learn to codeswitch yet I do think that if, as teachers, we don’t validate that students do have another form of language that is appropriate with friends and teach that chatspeak isn’t appropriate for school, it could be detrimental to our relationships with students.

I think young people and marginalized people have often created means by which they can communicate in a way that others may not be able to quickly understand. I agree with Greg Monfils when he says, “ … that it makes it all the more attractive to teens who, by any means at their disposal, will codeswitch to create a private language that excludes members of my generation who will most likely find their code aesthetically wanting.” He continues that if chatspeak happens to bleed into formal papers it often is due to rebelliousness rather than not knowing the difference between formal register and chat.

Linda Howard has a point that “The shortcuts and acronyms that make instant messaging, text messaging and online chatting so popular have no place in academic, business and other formal writing settings where it is essential that all individuals involved are using language that is clear and concise.” I agree with this and I think that as teachers we can teach students when and where to use certain registers. If students are taught that chatspeak is o.k. with their friends but not o.k. in the academic and business setting then I font think we have to worry. Just like teens speak differently at school than at home or with their friends. Each teacher has to decide their limits and make their expectations clear to students so then they know what to do. If teacher A doesn’t mind if students use chatspeak in their emails to him or her and teacher B does, then students can adjust. If we have to give them gentle reminders, then so be it.

I imagine some schools may even come to ban chatspeak but I think that schools should choose their battles. If it is seriously infringing on academic success, then it should be addressed. Otherwise, I think we should set our personal annoyances aside and let teenagers be free to create so long as no one is getting hurt.