Texting: Ppl, Srsly, It’s OK 2 Uz TxtSpk Sumtimz

Text speak gets a bad rap.

It’s been pegged as barbaric, accused of ruining the English language, identified as a symbol of the millennial generation’s laziness, and perhaps worst of all, it’s been strung up as the next bad habit liable to rot kids’ brains.

That puts it in the same category as American English, according to Prince Charles, and rock ’n’ roll, according to conservative evangelical parents of the 1950s—two institutions that turned out pretty okay, according to the majority.

So then, is the phenomenon of using shortcuts, homophones, and the omission of non-essential letters in what’s usually but not exclusively digital communication really such a terrible thing?

Or for those fluent in text speak:

LOL. So then iz d phenomenon of UzN shortcuts, homophones & d omission of non-essential letters n what’s usu bt not exclusively digital cmUnik8shn rly such a terrible tng.

Researchers from Coventry University in England don’t seem to think so. In fact, they argue the contrary, asserting that text speak is actually beneficial to the way that children interact with language.

More specifically, after assessing primary and secondary school children annually for two years, they “found no evidence of a link between poor grammar when texting and the actual grammatical understanding of UK children.” What they did find was that “children’s use of text speak is not only positively associated with word reading ability, but it may be contributing to reading development.”

Children’s use of text speak is not only positively associated with word reading ability, but it may be contributing to reading development.

The astounding results motivated the Scottish Qualifications Authority to, in a shocking move, accept text speak on English tests as long as the answers demonstrated that students understood the subject. The New Zealand Qualifications Authority followed suit, giving partial credit for text speak answers that showed understanding but lacked grammatical correctness.

These über progressive boards still remain exceptions to the rule though. For the most part, it’s still expected that text speak make no cameo appearances on any kind of formal examination.

So when is text speak appropriate?

John McWhorter, an associate professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University, would argue that this shorthand of sorts is fair game when you’re communicating in a manner that channels the speed and flow of typical conversations. That’s because he’s a firm believer that text speak is not so much a bastardization of our beloved written language, but a language of its own.

In a TED talk he delivered in 2013, he explains how “the miraculous thing” is developing its own grammar and conventions and should be more closely identified as “fingered speech” than as writing.

The big takeaway from his argument? People who use both text speak and formal written English are actually bilingual and can appropriately identify the contexts that warrant one or the other.

And while that may be true the majority of the time, text speak h8ters have jumped at the opportunity to point out the situations where those fluent in the new way of communicating have slipped up and inappropriately LOLed or YOLOed. So, for those new to the language, and also just to take it one step further and clarify when it’s okay to use text speak, we’ve put together a little litmus test as well as a few key tips.

How to figure out if using text speak in written communication is appropriate

”1” Think about this text speak golden rule: speak unto others as they would speak unto you.

This little maxim is all about context. Think about the person who you’re communicating with. Just like you wouldn’t parlez Français to a Chihuahua, you shouldn’t LOL at your grandmother’s lack of bilingualism or ROFL at your technologically challenged manager’s unfamiliarity with a language that you think is, OMG, gr8. If you don’t think someone shares your text speak knowledge, err on the side of conservatism.

Similarly, if you’re in an environment where there are generational gaps and hierarchies to be considered (read: the workplace), take the lead from others before dropping the text speak bomb.

”2”Think about wot yor trying 2 sA

As McWhorter so aptly notes, text speak is more like casual speech because it mirrors the loose, telegraphic eight- to ten-word packets that we converse in. If what you need to communicate demands longer, more reflective, more informative, or more analytical thought, then it probably lends itself to formal written English.

More specifically, other than in quick text messages, text speak can be great for instant messaging via apps like Skype and Slack that act as digital stand-ins for chirpy spoken exchanges (as long as you’ve ensured that the people who you’re communicating with comply with tip one). Same goes for social media posts on platforms with limited word counts, like Twitter.

Text speak can also be appropriate when you urgently need to communicate something fleeting, like the fact that you’re running late, via a more formal mode of communication, like email.

Tips for using text speak in written communication

If you’ve thought about the two points above and are confident that—ding, ding, ding—your situation has qualified for text speak use, then it’s still not a bad idea to consider a few best practice points. This especially holds true for using text speak in the business world, where communication can make or break a deal, a job opportunity, and more.

Only use text speak shortcuts that are widely known.

You still want to communicate clearly, after all. So using complicated acronyms like IYKWIM (If You Know What I Mean) or IANAL (I Am Not A Lawyer) will only confuse people further.

Consider the tone of your message and think about using polite terms to soften things up.

As business etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach Jacqueline Whitmore advises, “Quick messages can make you come off as flippant or harsh. Instead of staccato phrases, write complete sentences. Add polite touches like ‘please’ (plz) and ‘thank you’ (tks).”

And of course, don’t text in all caps—it makes it seem like you’re screaming.

Don’t use text speak that you wouldn’t say out loud.

This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s still good to point it out. If you wouldn’t give someone a gap-toothed grin and exclaim, “LOL. What the f*^&? Did you move the deadline forward? F*^& my life,” then you probably shouldn’t text them that either.

Try not overuse pragmatic particles.

A pragmatic particle is a linguistic term for a word or phrase that doesn’t add any semantic meaning to a sentence, but that still adds value in the way that it communicates attitude, shows empathy or adds structure to the interaction.

In text speak, LOL is an example of a pragmatic particle. People often use it even when nothing is funny or they’re clearly not laughing out loud. They do this to communicate light-heartedness and a positive tone.

Like difficult acronyms and abbreviations, pragmatic particles can be confusing for and misunderstood by those not as adept at text speak. So before defaulting to frequent use, think about the person you’re communicating with.

What’s it to you? Do you think there’s a case for situation-appropriate text speak, and do you agree with our points about when to use it? Share your opinion in the comments section below or via our Facebook page or Twitter feed.

 

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Stephanie Katz is a San Francisco-based writer who, contrary to the way it may seem, won’t correct your grammar over beers, coffees or any other normal life interaction. She tells stories about health, history, travel and more and can be contacted via email at stekatz@gmail.com.

How Lin-Manuel Miranda Gets Things Done

One look at composer-performer Lin-Manuel Miranda’s list of accomplishments and you’ve got to wonder how he does it all.

His first musical, In the Heights, which he wrote and starred in, won four Tony Awards. He’s acted in TV shows, appeared on SNL, and was recently awarded the prestigious MacArthur “Genius” Grant. He wrote the songs for Disney’s animated “Moana,” whose hit song “How Far I’ll Go” was nominated for the 2017 Oscar for Best Original Song. He’ll be starring in Disney’s upcoming Mary Poppins sequel, and is also connected to the live action version of The Little Mermaid.

Oh and you may have heard of his game-changing, record-breaking, smash hit musical, Hamilton, which won 11 Tony Awards, the 2016 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and totally redefined what musical theater could be.

via GIPHY

This guy stays busy. And not only does he find the time, but he’s consistently producing work that is both tremendously creative and is always raising the bar.

So what can we learn from Lin-Manuel Miranda about getting stuff done? And what can we learn about the creative process from this creative powerhouse?

1 Find Your Creative Groove

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With so much on his plate, Lin-Manuel has learned to make his creative time intentional and organized. He says:

In a way, I know that I’m going to get more writing done while I’m in the show, because having your life structured this way, where you have to be somewhere every night at 8:00, forces you to organize your time.

He always writes with a deadline (or else it won’t get finished), and he plays to his strengths by scheduling his writing time for the morning—his most productive time of day. Now that he has a dog, the morning walk is “when all the good stuff happens” and he’s able to tap into his peak creativity.

2 When The Going Gets Tough… Keep Going

This conversation happened 3 years ago. Keep writing. Get back to your piano. pic.twitter.com/90csgeoLUv

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) September 23, 2016

Lin-Manuel deals with writer’s block, just like the rest of us. It took him a full six years to write Hamilton, and along the way he faced the same bouts of discouragement (and hope) that all writers face.

Anytime you write something, you go through so many phases. You go through the ‘I’m a Fraud’ phase. You go through the ‘I’ll Never Finish’ phase. And every once in a while you think, ‘What if I actually have created what I set out to create, and it’s received as such?’

So if Lin-Manuel seems a little superhuman, it’s not because he was bitten by a radioactive, song-writing spider — it’s because he worked at it.

Making words rhyme for a living is one of the great joys of my life . . . That’s a superpower I’ve been very conscious of developing. I started at the same level as everybody else, and then I just listened to more music and talked to myself until it was an actual superpower I could pull out on special occasions.

3 Make Your Work a Priority—Because It’s Worth It

Good morning.

You will have to say no to things to say yes to your work.

It will be worth it.

This is from 2009. pic.twitter.com/fplm2QLsf6

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) October 11, 2016

A few years back, Lin-Manuel was sitting on a train headed to a friend’s birthday party, when he got the idea for a song. He started writing in his notebook and suddenly he had the chorus and he could see the whole shape of the song. When the train arrived at his stop he got off, went up to his friend’s party and said “Hey what’s up, man? Happy Birthday! I gotta go.” Then he left the party, got back on the train, and wrote the rest of the song (the Hamilton showstopper “Wait For It”) on the way home.

You have to do that sometimes, you have to say no to your friends to say yes to your work. Because what are you gonna do, like, lose that idea because you decided to have a drink with your friends? It’s not worth it, your friend will be there!

4 Find Collaborators and Mentors You Can Learn From

Hamilton doesn't exist without John Weidman.

Both by example

(Assassins, Pacific Overtures)

& through his friendship. pic.twitter.com/P86Z0QDnyQ

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) February 15, 2015

Collaboration can be a key part of raising your work to the next level. There were many times when Lin-Manuel felt stuck when writing Hamilton, but he had mentors like John Weidman and Stephen Sondheim who he could turn to for encouragement and feedback. Lin-Manuel says his choice to work on projects is not based on whether he thinks they’ll succeed or fail, but on what he’s going to learn from the process.

I co-wrote . . . “Bring It On: The Musical,” not because ever since I was a little boy I wanted to write about cheerleaders, but because I knew I’d be working with Andy Blankenbuehler and Tom Kitt and Jeff Whitty and Amanda Green. And I knew I’d have . . . three new tools for my songwriting tool kit from working with that caliber of artists. . . . I could not have written “Hamilton” without having worked on “Bring It On” first.

5 Do Work That You Love

At the end of the day, whatever type of creative work you do, it’s important to love the project you’re pursuing. In Lin-Manuel’s case, musicals involve a huge time commitment, and like most creative projects, will not make you rich (unless it’s Hamilton, which seems to be the huge exception to every rule).

Basically I have the best job in the world because I fall in love for a living. I write musicals, and musicals take a long time to write. So when you have an idea you really have to fall in love with it.

He advocates the importance of pursuing those ideas that just won’t leave you alone. Reality-wise, sometimes this means finding a job you can support yourself with so you can have the flexibility to work on your passion projects. While writing In the Heights, Lin-Manuel worked as a substitute teacher, and in the early days of writing Hamilton he took a job acting in an unsuccessful TV show (Do No Harm) which allowed him to spend time in Philadelphia doing research.

Lin-Manuel had no idea whether Hamilton would be a success or not, but he was passionate about the idea and he was committed to doing his best work. And the results were truly magical.

Here’s to doing the work you love!

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5 Overwatch Teamwork Tactics You Can Take to Work

This one’s for the gamer geeks. You know who you are. You’re the ones with thumbs permanently crooked from working analog sticks, or one hand formed into a palsied claw from clenching your [insert gaming mouse brand of choice here] in a death grip. You’re the ones whose parents said would never amount to anything if all you did was play video games all day. (To which you had to retort, “I’m building hand-eye coordination!”)

If Overwatch (or any other team-based shooter) has you in its clutches, fear not! You can take pride not only in your finest Play of the Game moments but also in the knowledge that, while you’re potentially alienating friends and family, you’re also building valuable collaboration skills that will help you rock your day job. Here are five team play tactics that have been subtly helping you get better at life. Go you!

1Stay on the payload!

Gamer skill

Just push the payload, buddy. Okay? No one wants to have to tell you this again. People aren’t making videos, songs, and memes to remind you of this all-important team play strategy for nothing. You’ve acquired this lesson, and you use it when you play Overwatch, right? Right!

Parallel career skill

Payload missions are a lot like meeting a team objective at work—you’ve got to stay focused on the thing that’s going to carry you to victory. At work, when some Genji goes skipping off doing his own thing, you’ll be the sensible everyday hero. You’ll get things done by pulling your teammates together and reminding them that you’ll only accomplish your goals if you keep your eyes on the prize.

Seriously. That payload isn’t going to move itself.

2Know your team composition

Gamer skill

You may learn to own the maps as a six-person team of healers or tanks, but it sure isn’t going to be easy. You’ve learned that success in Overwatch, or any other team-based shooter, comes in knowing your team and playing to its strengths. (This works especially well if you have a group of friends you play with.)

Parallel career skill

The same is true in a work setting. If you’re brilliant with words and your coworker can dazzle with Photoshop, there’s no reason you should be trying to edit your own graphics while she writes copy. Aces in their places, everybody!

3Play to your strengths

Gamer skill

Some players are born to tank, others to finesse with DPS. You understand that you’re on the most solid ground when you’re doing what comes naturally.

Parallel career skill

Part of succeeding at work comes with knowing what you’re good at. Let your light shine by taking on roles and tasks that highlight your strengths. That promotion can’t be far off!

4Hone alternate skills

Gamer skill

Of course, it’s always a good idea to diversify. You play to your strong suits, but you also have a few tricks up your sleeve. Your healer can’t make it to today’s gameplay session? No problem, you’ve got this. Who’s the hero? You are.

Parallel career skill

You’ll shine when you show your colleagues you’re more than a one-trick pony. If writing isn’t your regular thing, but you’re able to swoop in with a graceful bit of proofreading when no one else is available, you’ll earn a reputation for being multi-talented.

5Know that everyone is important

Gamer skill

Okay, so healing and support may not be the flashiest roles in Overwatch, or in any other game for that matter, but they’re essential. You know this to be true every time Mercy snatches you from the claws of death. “Heroes never die!”

Parallel career skill

The same is true in a work environment. Some roles are more glamorous than others, but every role is important. When you’re working together with your teammates, make sure you never undervalue what each contributes. That guy in payroll doing data entry may not seem to have much going on, but you have him to thank when your paycheck is deposited and your W-2 shows up on time.

Life’s a game

When you think about it, you can gamify just about anything in life, including work. We all know what comes of being “all work and no play,” but when work becomes play, life just gets better. So, the next time someone tells you that you’re wasting time playing video games, just point out the many ways gaming has made you into a hero not just in the digital world but also in the real one.

The Declaration of Independence: A Lesson in Language History

Language is constantly evolving – a fact made especially clear when we take a look at historical documents and note how writing norms have shifted over the years. The further back we go, the bigger the shift. The Declaration of Independence, for example, represents a version of English that is noticeably different than that which we use to communicate today.

What are the main grammatical differences between Thomas Jefferson’s version of English and our own? Read on to learn more.

Writing Style

The unusual writing style is one of the first things that many modern readers notice about the Declaration of Independence. Phrases and clauses are stacked together in sentences that threaten to become run-ons, and Jefferson was obviously in love with colons, semicolons, and dashes. The writing is also very persuasive, rational, and formal, using straightforward arguments to support moral principles. Government documents today tend to be dry and technical; few would read them voluntarily.

“That” vs. “Which”

Among the most troublesome of grammar nuances is the distinction between “that” and “which.” To summarize, “that” is used when the content that comes afterwards is necessary to the meaning of the sentence, otherwise known as a restrictive clause. “Which,” on the other hand, is used when non-essential information is being added to the sentence. The Chicago Manual of Style online has a great explanation and examples of how this works in practice.

In the Declaration of Independence, “which” is frequently used where “that” would be more appropriate (were the document to be revised today):

“…to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…”

“…they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

Why is this? Well, there are two things going on. First, this grammar distinction is relatively new. Second, even today, British English and American English are on different wavelengths when it comes to the use of “that” and “which.” In 1776, American English had yet to separate very much from its British roots.

British English vs. American English

Speaking of “that” vs. “which,” another reason that the Declaration of Independence reads strangely is that, in 1776, British and American English had yet to become distinct forms. All English was still British English, but change was beginning to happen. Declaring independence from England most definitely helped that process along. Today, of course, English is a truly international language, with dozens of variations.

Gendered Language

In the 21^st century, we try to write in a way that doesn’t exclude or disempower any gender, race, or other group. Two centuries ago, we hadn’t quite reached that level of awareness. That’s why it’s not surprising to see phrases such as:

“…all men are created equal.”

“…Governments are instituted among Men…”

“…mankind are more disposed to suffer…”

In 1776, men ruled the world, so it seemed completely natural write using these masculine nouns. If we were gathering today with the purpose of writing a similar document, readers would probably see more words like “humanity,” “people,” and “society,” as these get the same idea across without ignoring half the population.

Spelling and Capitalization

Make no mistake: a few words here and there in the Declaration of Independence are absolutely misspelled by today’s standards. “Hath shewn,” “compleat,” and “Brittish” are the main offenders. The spelling of these words reveals a connection to the Middle English of Chaucer’s time. Regardless of the time period, spelling has always been a (sometimes unfair) way for people to judge others.

The non-standard capitalization of key words, on the other hand, functions to heighten emphasis and dramatic effect. Examples of the liberal use of capitalization in the Declaration of Independence include:

“Laws of Nature”

“Form of Government”

“Safety and Happiness”

“Standing Armies”

“Free and Independent States”

Although it’s been 238 years since the Declaration of Independence was drafted, only a few things stick out to strict grammarians as “wrong” by today’s standards. But as a whole, the text simply sounds strange to readers today.

Do you think that important documents, like the Declaration of Independence, should be updated to reflect today’s language standards? Share your thoughts in the comments, and Happy Independence Day (coming up on July 4)!

5 Foundational Writers in Women’s History

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court justice and feminist, said, “I would like in my lifetime to see women get fired up about the Equal Rights Amendment.” Under the US Constitution, women are guaranteed the right to vote; the ERA would guarantee equal rights in all other areas of the law regardless of sex, but it isn’t part of the US Constitution yet. Ginsburg’s eighty-third birthday is on the 15th of March, which is also Women’s History Month, and the perfect time to ask: are we fired up yet?

Today, women continue to struggle against pay inequality and pregnancy discrimination, but we’ve come a long way since the following grievances were aired by Elizabeth Cady Stanton in the “Declaration of Sentiments”:

• husbands had legal power over and responsibility for their wives, to the extent that they could imprison or beat them with impunity
• women were not allowed to enter professions such as medicine or law
• women had no means to gain an education because no college or university would accept them as students

During the women’s rights movement that began in the late nineteenth century, women and men, several of whom were authors, fought to change the system. These authors and their notable works are outlined below.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860–1935)

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a feminist, novelist, and poet who divorced her husband and gave him and his new wife custody of her daughter so she could pursue a life fighting for women’s rights. In Women and Economics (1898), Gilman demonstrated that women’s financial dependence on men made it nearly impossible for women to develop their talents fully. Herland (1915) is a feminist utopian novel in which women give birth as virgins and live in a matriarchal society that proves to be superior to patriarchal society. Her best-known work, “The Yellow Wallpaper”, is a semi-autobiographical account of a woman being confined to a room for three months as part of a “rest cure.” The short story illustrates how women need to be autonomous to thrive socially, mentally, and physically.

Kate Chopin (1850–1904)

Kate Chopin was ahead of her time in writing The Awakening (1899), which, much to her surprise, shocked readers and caused a literary scandal; this reaction may have been why Chopin didn’t publish again during her lifetime. The novel tells the story of a married woman’s “spiritual and erotic awakening” from marital and social conventions. The main character, Edna Pontellier, leaves her husband and children for a young man she falls in love with. But Edna is unable to maintain independence and has no support from society as a single woman. She decides there’s no place for a woman like her in the world and commits suicide. Chopin uses Edna’s story to demonstrate the barriers that discourage a young woman from departing from traditional gender roles.

Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960)

Zora Neale Hurston, a novelist, short story writer, and anthropologist, is best known for her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), which depicts the lives of American blacks through the heroine Janie’s point of view. She is married to an older man whom she doesn’t love and runs away to be with another man. After he dies, she falls in love with a younger man. Janie goes against the traditional roles imposed on women while searching for her identity. She strives to maintain her independence while shunning the chauvinism of the black community.

Betty Friedan (1920–2006)

The Feminine Mystique (1963) purportedly spurred the second wave of the American women’s movement in the 1960s. Friedan conducted a survey of her former classmates and found out that many of the housewives were unhappy with their lives. She was inspired to write about this subject and challenge the notion that women should content themselves with being married and having children and nothing more. The Feminine Mystique is regarded as one of the most influential nonfiction books of the twentieth century. After its publication, Friedan received hundreds of letters from unhappy housewives and formed the National Organization for Women, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to women’s rights.

Alice Walker (1944- )

Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Color Purple (1982), was a civil rights activist and editor. Celie, the novel’s main character, is a poor African American woman from Georgia who struggles to overcome abuses from her childhood and gain self-respect. She depicts the oppression in black communities, not only of blacks by whites but also of black women by black men. Celie and other women stand up to the men and insist on fair treatment; Walker is optimistic about the black community, depicting the men as remorseful and willing to change. Walker is a prolific poet and has published Once (1968), Revolutionary Petunias and Other Poems (1973), Horses Make a Landscape Look More Beautiful (1984) and Absolute Trust in the Goodness of the Earth: New Poems (2003).

These five authors give us an idea of the evolution of women’s rights over the twentieth century, but the relevance of their characters’ struggles today proves that more work needs to be done. To close with another Ruth Bader Ginsburg quote, “I’m sometimes asked when will there be enough [women on the Supreme Court]? And I say ‘When there are nine.’ People are shocked. But there’d been nine men, and nobody’s ever raised a question about that.”