This blog is in response to my Ex- student Mr. Jitendra Salvi’s request to know my views on the subject.
We have seen an increase in the number of students using internet due to advanced technology. They use social networks for different point objects. Through this blog I would like to state the effect of social media language usage on students’ ability to learn proper English.
When we practice academic writing, we make a conscious effort to stay clear of slang language. But the rapid increase in social networking has created a whole new language, whereby there is a need to find out to what degree the English language has become imprecise.
Proficiency In English Language – A Necessity:
English language expertise is now a necessity in all areas of communication. It is used extensively in inter-state and international communication. It is therefore important to have a good knowledge of the English language.
Many learn the language through observation and imitation in both speaking and writing. To take an example, the advent of the internet brought about a whole new range of abbreviations into our daily lives. For the sake of brevity, our texts, tweets, and chats are now made up of many abbreviations.
- ACE – a cool experience
- CUL – See you later
- AD – awesome dude
- LOL – laugh out loud
- AFAIK – as far as I know
- CWYL – chat with you later
These are just a handful of innumerable abbreviations that are used online and on our phones.
Formal & Non-Formal Use Of The English Language:
A problem arises when users are not able to make a distinction between formal language and informal language. More often than not, the students at tertiary level, are inclined to use improper formats and sentences that muffle English.
This strange incidence has given rise to Internet slang, further raising the question of the impact on Indian students. Those lacking English proficiency may be affected as they will have the tendency to imitate and, in this case, imitate improperly.
Improper, flawed language usage in these mediums, may, in the long run, affect their career in their individual fields. Those students who have graduated will find it threatening to communicate in English either in speaking or in writing, especially with workplace management. This and the basic feeling of inferiority of a non-native speaker communicating with a conversant speaker prove to be a faltering block for the person.
Therefore, Internet slang used on social media platforms and mobile phones differ from traditional English and should not be used in formal platforms. Most students are made aware by their teachers that formal English will not allow Social Media English usage.
Craig (2003) also found that texting also threatens students’ literacy because it creates undesirable reading and writing habits due to common use of abbreviations and unusual jargon, thereby damaging students’ ability to employ formal literacy skills.
Is Texting Killing The English Language Skills Of Students?
Text messaging is deemed to be damaging to students’ language expertise since students mix this “text language” with the English language they learn at school. As a result, students display frequent errors ranging from incorrect spellings to “ungrammatical” sentence constructions. This negatively impacts the students’ proficiency in the English language though the students tend to be aware of the examination requirements, the non-compliance of which would affect their scores. They are very aware that misspelling is not accepted, and marks will be deducted if it is reflected in their assignments and presentation slides. Therefore, in formal writing, students consciously avoid using short forms.
However, it is frequently used in social networking sites and they tend to imitate unknowingly.
Given the depth and width of the question, “Whether Social Media English is corrupting the traditional English” , it may be unproductive to recapitulate the sociolinguistic studies quantifying and comparing the subjective attitudes of speakers vis-à-vis English and major Social Networking Site languages in the various areas of verbal interaction (family, friends, school, university, entertainment, work, etc.), because they are only concerned, by necessity, with a very limited variety of the population and cannot represent the mass.
Conclusion:
It may equally be immaterial to collect the various contexts for code-switching with English: whether one enjoys or hates the new “Hinglish” used in SNS usage, there are here to stay.
Some Hinglish words used like Glassi — thirsty, Filmi — glamorous, Jungli — unruly, wild, Time pass — idle distraction, or languish, Would-be — fiancee or fiance., may be a nightmare for traditional English teachers like me but it is getting more and more difficult to stop their creeping into the English Language.
The Next Generation must decide on what they want to do –
Either to dilute the traditional English or to adapt the Social Networking Site English in a way that does not destroy the very essence of the English Language.
Art Of Teaching 
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