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There is no doubt that the Short Messaging Service (SMA) is the most popular
means of communication today. Youths are the heaviest users. Some people even
believe that sending of SMS has become an addiction among them. Unlike in the
past, people had to arrange an outing beforehand. With SMS, this is no longer
needed as it is instantaneous. People are
now no longer as difficult to reach as before. Users do not have to arrange for
meetings or activities much earlier. Now, they just have to send an SMS to their
friends. The message will inform their friends of the meeting, time and place of
the meeting.
As it is so prevalent among youths, there
are bound to be many repercussions on them.
This is particularly so in the use of language. It is the norm to use short
forms in typing an SMS text. Spelling out the entire word or sentence would take
up more space. More words increase the cost of sending. Hence short-forms and
abbreviations are often used.
Sending messages like "See you tonight at 8.30 p.m." could be replaced by "c
u tonite, 830". In this respect, SMS can have a negative effect on language.
Students make use of too many short-forms. Some even carry on with the usage of
short-forms in their daily school work and essay answers.
Many youths are addicted to sending or receiving SMS texts. A survey
disclosed that some send about fifty or even more every day. This incurs high
expenses on the phone bill. Despite these disadvantages, SMS is here to stay.
This is due to its benefits of cost, convenience and saving time. It has
definitely become a culture among the old and young alike. |
