"N. Baron & Cullington" pg. 719

"Instant Messaging and the Future of Language"

Mrs. Naomi Baron is describing how computer-mediated communication (CMC) and instant messages (IM) can influence younger audiences by giving them an opportunity to interact with other people and to be social. She focuses on a particular question, "Are email, instant messaging (IM), and text messaging on cell phones degrading the language?" Mrs. Baron tells us that many things that are here in the United States, but are not an issue in Europe or any other country. "Computer-based IM is relatively recent phenomenon to Europe." During the time of Beowulf, there were many different shifts in writing patterns. Shakespeare even spelt his name many different ways, probably around six times, in his time. While the Vietnam War was going on, people did not know how to use a semicolon or how to spell. So, with that being said, many of these problems dissolved with the help and guidance of teachers, parents and professionals. She explains how these worries and problems end up being the conversations and debates between professionals and also a parent and their teenage child. This could cause problems when teenagers replace words with abbreviations of that word like brb, be right back, and U for the actual word you. Mrs. Baron says that they are not any different from "like" or "totally" which are very common in the United States. She compares the abbreviations that adolescents use to contractions like "don't" rather than do not. Mrs. Baron tells us that contractions are only used two-thirds of the time and spelling out the words go to the other third, and she also says, "females are significantly more likely to type full forms than males."

She also proved that instant messages weren't always instant and not all messages are abbreviated, incorrectly spelled, or have grammer errors. Mrs. Baron believes that it can be tolerated and that their is no harm in using technology, but that "traditional writing conventions" be taught as well. She knows that a CMC style is empowering. "However, if today's teenagers are also to master more formal written language style, their parents and teachers must provide good models and, if necessary, even gentle sticks." She wants us to use technology and take advantage of the advancements in our society, but she does not want adolescents to forget and not learn older traditional writing styles, grammer skills, and spelling skills.