Name: Txtng is killing language. JK!!!
Uploaded: 2013-04-22T14:59:34Z
Duration: 13 min 34 s
Description: Does texting mean the death of good writing skills? John McWhorter posits that there’s much more to texting -- linguistically, culturally -- than it seems, and it’s all good news.

John McWhorter: Txtng is killing language. JK!!!

Txtng is killing language. JK!!!

Does texting mean the death of good writing skills? John McWhorter posits that there’s much more to texting -- linguistically, culturally -- than it seems, and it’s all good news.

Texting is not the death of language but the rise of a new form—what some call 'fingered speech.' While writing developed late in human history, texting brings written language closer to the loose, spontaneous flow of everyday conversation. Features like 'LOL' and 'slash' have evolved into new linguistic tools, building a living, flexible system on our screens. Far from signaling decline, this shift shows young people expanding their linguistic abilities and inventing new ways to connect.