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Textspeak vs. Newspeak

Textspeak vs. Newspeak. Dylan Matousek ENGL 396 4 December 2012. Thesis Rise of Texting What is Textspeak ? What is Newspeak? Similarities Differences Conclusion. Outline.

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Textspeak vs. Newspeak

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  1. Textspeak vs. Newspeak Dylan Matousek ENGL 396 4 December 2012

  2. Thesis • Rise of Texting • What is Textspeak? • What is Newspeak? • Similarities • Differences • Conclusion Outline

  3. The rise of text messaging as a popular form of communication, and the constraints it places upon language use, is causing the creation of a new form/dialect of the English language, one that is structurally similar to the Newspeak imagined by George Orwell in his novel 1984. • The variant form of English found in text messages, though, does not follow along the same ideological lines as Orwell’s Newspeak, and its use does not undermine a child’s ability to write or speak Standard English. My thesis

  4. I enjoy dystopian literature. • I believed that text language was degrading the English language. • This is no longer my belief. Why did I choose this?

  5. 85% of American adults own a cell phone • 58% texting in 2007 • 80% texting in 2012 • 97% of 18-29 year olds text Rise of Texting

  6. Txtspkl%kssmthnglkths. • Widespread use of acronyms • Lol, wtf, brb, afaik, cwim • Primacy of consonants over vowels for informative value • Using letters, numerals, or other symbols in place of whole syllables and words • #@%&!! • D0 U C? What is Textspeak?

  7. “OldthinkersunbellyfeelIngsoc” • “Those whose ideas were formed before the Revolution cannot have a full emotional understanding of the principles of English Socialism” • Noun-verbs form the basis and can be used for nearly all parts of speech • Knife -> knifeful -> knifewise • Regularity of form • Never deviate from the proscribed rules! What is Newspeak?

  8. Elimination of superfluity • Neither is the sole means of communication for anyone…yet • Both are a specialized form of communication for a special purpose • Both formed on Standard English, but are nearly unrecognizable Similarities

  9. Role of central authority • Strictly controlled vs. unbound • Perspectives on the creation of new words and expressions • No room for creativity vs. driven by creativity • Ideology • Limiting of lingual expression vs. expansion of it Differences

  10. Among 10-12 year old UK students: • “no association between overall textism use and the children’s spelling scores” • “strong association between textism use and phonological awareness” • Embrace creative use of language Conclusion

  11. Works Cited Lerer, Seth. Inventing English: A Portable History of the Language. New York: Columbia UP, 2007. Print. Orwell, George. Animal Farm ; 1984. Orlando: Harcourt, 2003. Print. Rainie, Lee, and Maeve Duggan. Cell Phone Activities 2012. Rep. Pew Research Center, 25 Nov. 2012. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. Vosloo, Steve. "The effects of texting on literacy: Modern scourge or opportunity?." Shuttleworth Foundation (2009): 2-6.

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