Textisms. (c2011)

Abstract

The 21st century has brought with it many new and efficient technological advances in the area of communications; most notable are the Internet (CMC) and mobile telephones (SMS). The youth of this generation has advanced communications through various media, although the most popular methods of choice have been text messaging via cellular phones and chatting on the Internet. However, there has been some debate about whether this "new" communication is negatively affecting students' academic writing. This study seeks to discover whether or not Lebanese university students’ constant use of chatting and text language (textisms) has in any way affected their academic essay writing assignments in one English medium university in Lebanon. Through content analysis of academic essays and questionnaires from both students and instructors, findings indicate that texting does not negatively affect English academic writing, since students can differentiate between the appropriateness of using textisms and academic English when writing essays. Recommendations for teaching and learning and future research have been made.