Tumblr Blog Ithaca College

Giang, Vivian. 5 Rules of Texting Etiquette Every Professional Needs to Know. Business Insider, 09/20/2013. Web. 03/05/2014.

       This article shows society rules that revolve around texting. Texting is becoming a main form of communication and there are rules that go along with it. The first rule is to be cautious when using abbreviations.  The second rule is to be aware of your tone. While texting someone you may think you are sounding nice meanwhile the recipient thinks the message was hurtful. The third rule is to never send bad news over text messages. This is not a good idea and can start conflicts with who ever you are texting. The fourth rule is don’t change meeting times via text messaging. People don’t always check their phone every minute of the day so they may not receive the message on time. The fifth rule is to always double check your message when using the voice-to-text feature. This advanced tool will often mistype a message and can send the wrong messages to people. 

      This is helpful because it shows people what not to do. People can learn how to be proper when composing a text message.  This can help me in my research because it can help emphasis Crystal’s main ideas.

May, Mickayla. “Texting has many advantages in modern age.” Otago Daily Times 11 September 2013, n. pag. Web. 4 Mar. 2014.

        This article shows the positive outlook towards texting. It focuses on text messaging being more efficient and less complicated for people. On the other hand, it also talks about negative effects of texting. These include causing harm to individuals by texting mean messages back and forth.

       This can be helpful because I want to show how texting can also be negative. David Crystal only talk about positive effects of texting so incorporating negative effects can be useful.

  Powell, D., and M. Dixon. “Does SMS Text Messaging Help Or Harm Adults’ Knowledge Of Standard Spelling?.” Journal of Computer Assisten Learning 27.1 (2011): 58-66 ERIC. Web. 2 Mar. 2014.

        In this article results were shown referring to children and adults being introduced to misspellings and texims. This study explained how the children that were given cell phones earlier were able to comprehend the language faster. Cell phones symbolize a sense of freedom and having a cell phone can make people express what they want when they want too. This article also talks about how children and adults retain different aspects of the language. When both adults and children were exposed to misspellings, the adults were more impacted than the children were. This study effected adults more than children. Lastly, being exposed to the textisms increased the spelling in adults.

        This can be helpful because it shows how texting really affects adults. Adults have adapted to textism and have become better at spelling.

Sweeny, Sheelah M. "Writing For The Instant Messaging And Text Messaging Generation: Using New Literacies To Support Writing Instruction." Journal Of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 54.2 (2010): 121-130. Literary Reference Center. Web. 3 Mar. 2014.

        This article argues the knowledge of new literacies from information and communication technology. It also discusses how using information and communication to teach writing and communication to students can benefit them. It discusses how there is a positive correlation between new technology and texting. Lastly, the article shows how important it is to be informed with what is happening around us and how everything changes at a rapid pace.

        This can be very useful because it talks about how new technology is playing a big part in our lives. In David Crystal’s article “2b or Not 2b”, he discusses how new technology is taking over and how people need to adapt. Crystal’s main point is how people may not like texting but this form of communication isn’t going to be extinct any time soon. This is also displayed many times throughout the paper, "Writing For The Instant Messaging And Text Messaging Generation: Using New Literacies To Support Writing Instruction." Both of these articles can help me complete my research and support my underlying message.

Wood, C., et al. "The Effect Of Text Messaging On 9- And 10-Year-Old Children's Reading, Spelling And Phonological Processing Skills." Journal Of Computer Assisted Learning 27.1 (2011): 28-36. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 Mar. 2014. 

       This paper talks about a study that has been done to determine the correlation between text messaging and the literacy skills of young children. Children who never had a phone were randomly placed in either the intervention group or control condition group. Every child was tested before and after the experiment on their ability to read, spell and phonological awareness. The children in the intervention group were handed a phone that is designed for text messaging only. They were required to keep the phone for about 10 weeks. Studies showed that there was no significant differences between the two groups of children based on their literacy for that portion of time. Although the children in the texting group displayed the use of text abbreviations which was positively related to improving literacy skills. Overall, these results prove that text messaging does not poorly affect the growth of literacy skills within this age group. The use of abbreviations when texting is positively related to improvement in literacy skills, especially spelling. 

What is This Really About? 

In David Crystal’s article “2b or Not 2b”, Crystal discusses why he believes texting will not destroy language. Crystal introduces a conflicting argument in the first paragraph when he mentions John Humphrys’ "I h8 txt msgs: How texting is wrecking our language"(Humphrys qtd. in Crystal 745). Making an inference from the title of the article, Humphrys does not support texting and says texters are "vandals who are doing to our language what Genghis Khan did to his neighbors 800 years ago” (Humphrys qtd. in Crystal 745). Crystal discussed how texting began in the early 1990’s during this time you could only send 20 characters in length. Crystal states that several texters break linguistic rules. He supports his argument by analyzing a study that has proven that the number of abbreviations in a text message resulted in higher scores on reading and vocabulary tests. According to Crystal, the first thing you have to do to be able to write well is to know how letters relate to sounds throughout each language.

Crystal discusses the example of how T-Mobile held a competition for the best romantic poem in SMS. The benefits of texting that David expresses is about how poetry through SMS is becoming popular. Crystal also talks about SMS novels that have been published. An example given was the Japanese author, Yoshi, who created the novel “Deep Love”. This novel is unique because readers could send feedback in and Yoshi incorporated some of their ideas into later chapters. Another novel published was The Last Messages which is a 332- page narrative composed of SMS messages.

In conclusion, Crystal explains that texting is merely the newest form of communication and will not harm our language. He implies that texting is only making the language better, not weakening it. He comes to reason that if a person texts with abbreviations they must already understand the way sounds and letters intermingle. People may not like texting but this form of communication isn’t going to be extinct any time soon.

Tell Me More! 

I agree with David Crystal and how he views texting. His studies show that there is a positive correlation between texting, abbreviations and scores on reading and vocabulary tests (Crystal 745-753). My own experience and observations match Crystal’s results of the study. I believe reading is very important and that everyone should be involved. Not everyone likes to read but in my opinion reading a text message is a form of reading. Most phones in today’s generation have spell check so if a person isn’t too sure how to spell a word there is a way to correct the spelling. This shows people how to spell the word correctly and hopefully to refrain from making a spelling mistake in the future. I am an avid texter and I believe it can alter the way people read and write in a positive way.

I believe that the more strategies students use, the better they can do on reading and vocabulary tests. If someone texts a certain word frequently they will shortly know how to spell that word and start to incorporate new words into their language. Without texting people may not be as aware of certain words and terms. I would emphasize the fact that abbreviation strategies were used in texts and have been around for a long time now. This shows how our society is slowly adapting to new changes and how people can still incorporate ideas from the past to the present. Overall, I believe that texting is a positive thing and can in fact help some ones ability to do better on reading and vocabulary tests.

Fig 1. Texting Abbreviations. Illustration taken from Blogspot.com

Hello, Is Anyone Listening?

I believe Crystal’s essay can appeal to a wide range of audiences. This article mentions an activity that young people do everyday; therefore several young people will quickly become interested in reading it. The information Crystal provides us with may seem obsolete because it was written in 2008 which may lose some younger audiences. The target audience would most likely be people between the ages of fifteen and forty. Crystal seems to be protecting the views of our generation and those a few years older. Elderly people most likely would not relate to this article because they may not know how to text or own a cell phone. Crystal’s audience is expected to have experience with text messaging. This is so they can think about their own use of abbreviating and how it has affected their language and compare it with his argument. This article may appeal to a wide-ranging audience today but in 2008, Crystal was writing more specifically to an older audience that was still uncertain of these new texting technologies.

Fig 2. An Audience with an Audience of Audiences. Illustration taken from Briansolis.com

  Why is Crystal Doing This?

The purpose of “2b or Not 2b” was to inform the public of the concerns revolving around texting during mid-2000s. David Crystal’s goal was to show his audience that texting is positive and should not be discouraged. People worried that texting using abbreviations would alter our language for the worse and transform texters into poor writers. In order to stop people from believing this, Crystal provided the reader with evidence that proved that these beliefs are false. Using abbreviations within a text message is actually helping our language become more creative. Lastly, text messaging has been shown to increase literacy and writing skills.

Fig 3. David Crystal. Illustration taken from Telegraph.com

  Where is He Coming From?

In his article, David Crystal seems to be passionate and hopeful towards the future of texting and our language. Crystal is trying to show the reader his view of texting and for this to be possible he expresses passion. Crystal is also critical towards people for believing the theory that text messaging is ruining our lives and language. Although he remains positive that society will realize its just a stage of language. Crystal uses logos to enhance his argument. This article is surrounded by people criticizing texting. By using logos, Crystal can structure his position and provide evidence against these claims and revealing reasons to view texting in a positive way. “The most important finding is that texting does not erode children’s ability to read and write. On the contrary, literacy improves.” (Crystal 752). This shows he is being calm and can convince society of what is true and false.

  Fig 4. Passionate People, Powerful Ministry. Illustration taken fromresonateordie.com

Who is Aware? 

In my opinion the purpose of composing an academic essay is to persuade the reader into agreeing with your views. Audiences generally read these essays to become more aware of what is going on around them and to advance their critical thinking skills. This will help to broaden their viewpoints and grasp different sides of an issue. The audience assumes the author has the qualifications and background to be making the informed stance he/she is writing about in the essay. People also trust the structure of the essay is published through reliable resources. Publishing essays in print has advantages as well as disadvantages. Advantages are that they tend to be more reliable because their technology doesn’t change as rapidly. It is also portable so people don’t have to wait for downloads. Print is a better option than relying online mainly because the online publication may not always be able to reach their target audience. Disadvantages of print publication is that they focus on one particular target, meanwhile online is able to reach more people. Therefore print is designed for a smaller audience. If the writer were writing for an online magazine or blog, there would be a much greater audience. Crystal’s article, “2b or Not 2b” is published in print sources as well as online. In conclusion, his essays can reach many different types of audiences.

  Fig 5. General Awareness. Illustration taken from Jobsblast.com

  The Journey 

Designing a blog may sound like a simple task but when you start to create your blog it starts to become vey difficult. Many things need to be taken into consideration. I faced several challenges when creating my blog. I came across problems such as balancing my space, creating the right meaning behind my artifacts and following the correct design principles. I learned that you have to make your blog interesting otherwise no one will look at it. People like to see pictures and intriguing facts and if a blog doesn’t contain this it will not be very popular. I learned from doing a rhetorical analysis that pictures and short phrases are key. Making your blog short and to the point is what will draw in the attention from others. When using Tumblr I realized that there was a character limit so getting an important message across may be difficult. I am fairly new to the blogging world so I’m not quite sure how Tumblr relates to other platforms. Considering the way technology is used today I can infer that that there is a platform and format for any idea that is being composed.

Fig 6. Tumblr Blog. Illustration taken fromSproutsocial.com

  Works Cited:

Baron, Dennis. “Should Everybody Write?” Everyone’s an Author With Readings. Eds. Andrea Lunsford et al. New York: Norton, 2013. 702-726. Print.

Boyd, Chris. “Resonate or Die.” Chris Boyd. June 7, 2010. JPEG. February 24, 2014.

Burke, John. “6 Professional Tumblr Themes for Housing Your Online Presence.” Sprout Social. January 22, 2013. JPEG. February 24, 2014.

Collier, Marsha. “Top 5 Things NOT to Text Your Mom this Mother’s Day.” Marsha Collier’s Musings. Blogspot, May 10, 2012. JPEG. February 24, 2014.

Crystal, David. “2b or Not 2b.” Everyone’s an Author With Readings. Eds. Andrea Lunsford et al. New York: Norton, 2013. 745-753. Print. 

“David Crystal poetry competition.” Telegraph. December 11, 2011. JPEG. February 24, 2014.

“General Awareness.” March 11, 2013. JPEG. February 24, 2014.

Spectators at a Live Football Game

If I were to get the attention of someone watching a live football game I would advertise my blog on the Jumbotron. Using hastags can also help me draw attract more interest. Being an avid sports fan I often search for sports related topic and hastags are a short cut to finding what I am searching for. Sports fan are often not fond of reading long paragraphs so I would try to incorporate meaningful pictures into my blog. If there was a lot of writing incorporated into my blog it might lose of focus of the people at the football game. These people are checking their phones periodically during the game and the last thing they want to do is read something long. Using short phrases and pictures is what I believe will attract spectators at a football game.

Visitors of a Major Art Museum

Advertising my blog to people at an art museum similar to a live football game. I would need to design posters and hang them throughout the museum. Including hashtags and pictures would be another key aspect to have people search my blog. I would also provide short descriptions and background information. When people visit an art museum they want to know where things came from and why they are so popular, with a short description a person can retain this information.

Cinema Attendees for a Hollywood Movie

To grab the attention of cinema attendees, I would add a commercial before all the coming attractions that most people try to zone out. I would include hashtags and large flashy images to get my viewers to check out my blog. Once again I would use short phrases and hopefully attract more people to the site.

Facebook (Social Media) Friends

In order to get people that are on Facebook to visit my blog I would advertise and post links that people can click on to bring them to my blog quicker. Including hashtags can always help get peoples attention. I would also talk to friends and family and ask them to help me advertise my blog on their social media. Including the “share” button is also a great way for your friends on Facebook to get the word out. Using this feature will directly lead to my blog popping up on their newsfeed. People like to do things if others are doing it too so if they see my link multiple times this might convince them to click on it.

  Readers of Academic Articles

To get those who read academic articles to view my blog I would use proper language and be as formal as possible. Different from the football game and cinema, I would compose longer posts. I would be straight and to the point and hopefully keep my viewers interested in my blog. 

Reverse Outline: 

David Crystal starts off the article by quoting John Humphrys. He says that texting is ruining our language.

John Sutherland refers to texting as penmanship for illiterates.

People argued that new technology would harm the language.

Texting became popular in the 90s. The average number of text messages sent sky rocketed from 1995 to 2000.

70 billion texts were sent in 2005 in the UK.

Texting helps rather then hinders literacy. Texting is a good thing it is adding a new dimension to the language.

People are starting to use abbreviations in text messages. Colleges send out mass text messages to their student body.

Abbreviations are starting to become less common.

Teenager wrote an entire essay using abbreviations and the teacher didn’t understand it.

There are several distinctive ways to compose text messages.

People use single letters, numerals, and symbols to represent words or parts of words.

Use of initial letters for whole words.

Eric Partride published a dictionary of abbreviations

We use abbreviated words in todays language.

Words are being shortened, logograms.

Individual differences in texting.

Texters use deviant spellings.

Finding a strategy to reduce time and awkwardness of inputting graphic symbols.

Abbreviations were used as a response to a technological problem.

Several different ways in which people play with language.

Being playful when texting is very powerful.

Best romantic poem written in SMS was designed.

Yoshi, author of Deep Love which is a texting novel where readers send feedback and some of it was incorporated into the novel.

Distance by Xuan Huang is an SMS novel where a young couple gets to know each other because of a wrongly sent text.

160-character constraint, abbreviations became necessary to get your message across in one text.

Norman Silver, an SMS poet that introduced variations in line-shape, type-size, font, and color.  

The Last Messages is about an IT who quits his job and keeps in contact by texting. French SMS novel designed to discourage young people from smoking.

Abbreviations show that you already have a sense of how the sounds of your language relate to the letters

It is the latest manifestation and is a way for us to be linguistically creative

Summary: 

In David Crystal’s article “2b or Not 2b”, Crystal discusses why he believes texting will not destroy language. He also says that texting may add a new dimension to communication.

Crystal introduces a conflicting argument in the first paragraph when he mentions John Humphrys’ "I h8 txt msgs: How texting is wrecking our language". Making an inference from the title of the article, Humphrys does not support texting and says texters are "vandals who are doing to our language what Genghis Khan did to his neighbors 800 years ago.” Crystal also mentions John Sutherland, a man who also despised texting. Sutherland described texting as "bleak, bald, sad shorthand. Drab shrinktalk ... Linguistically it's all pig's ear ... it masks dyslexia, poor spelling and mental laziness. Texting is penmanship for illiterates."

Crystal discussed how texting began in the early 1990’s during this time you could only send 20 characters in length. Texting has been growing tremendously since then.

Abbreviations have been used for hundreds of years. Crystal states that several texters break linguistic rules. People tend to abbreviate more when the messages are longer. Crystal supports his argument by analyzing a study that has proven that the number of abbreviations in a text message resulted in higher scores on reading and vocabulary tests. According to Crystal, the first thing you have to do to be able to write well is to know how letters relate to sounds throughout each language.

Studies have been shown that texting can be a fun way to be playful with language. Crystal discusses the example of how T-Mobile held a competition for the best romantic poem in SMS. David proposes the idea that people abbreviated words long before the age of texting. The benefits of texting that David expresses is about how poetry through SMS is becoming popular. Crystal also talks about SMS novels that have been published. An example given was the Japanese author, Yoshi, who created the novel “Deep Love”. This novel is unique because readers could send feedback in and Yoshi incorporated some of their ideas into later chapters. Another novel published was The Last Messages which is a 332- page narrative composed of SMS messages.

In conclusion, Crystal explains that texting is merely the newest form of communication and will not harm our language. He implies that texting is only making the language better, not weakening it. He comes to reason that if a person texts with abbreviations they must already understand the way sounds and letters intermingle. People may not like texting but this form of communication isn’t going to be extinct any time soon.

Pathos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MV3HWQHl1s

This commercial uses Pathos to get an emotional response from viewers to help the cause. This commercial encourages people to buy Toms shoes. When Toms sells a pair of shoes a pair of shoes is given to an impoverished child, and when Toms sells a pair of eyewear, part of the profit is used to save or restore the eyesight for people in developing countries.

Logos:

http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/blog/smoking%20ad300.bmp

This ad uses logos to persuade viewers not to smoke. 

  Ethos: 

http://morganlivingston.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/ethos-ad.jpg

This appeals to ethos because is shows how we tend to trust people we respect and believe what they say. This persuades people to buy sharpies by having David Beckham advocate the product.

- Dr. Seuss

This quote is very inspirational to me! What does everyone else think?