When was the last time you wrote a handwritten letter? – 14 June 2008

A program on Life Matters on ABC Radio National which was first broadcast on November 30, 2007 led me to consider when was the last time I wrote a handwritten letter. The funny thing is on Friday I hand wrote a greeting card and was so annoyed because I mis-spelt a word and couldn’t go back and correct it that I had to go out and buy another card.

This experience made me think about the changing nature of handwriting. With most of our written communication nowadays taking place via electronic modes be it computers or mobile phones, our handwriting is often limited to short notes, shopping lists and greeting cards.

When was the last time you handwrote a letter? When I shut down my computer I’m going to write a handwritten letter to my Nanna – perhaps because she is one of the few who wouldn’t think it was strange to receive a handwritten letter!

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2008/2188818.htm

Technology is affecting basic communication skills – 7 June 2008

After receiving a text message from my 16 year old niece which was written in text speak I realized that I wasn’t the young hip aunty I thought I was. The message which was full of abbreviations, dropped vowels and ‘mis-spelt’ shortened words immediately made me think that technology was failing the younger generation. My mum constantly says how young people these days can’t spell, phonetics aren’t taught in school and lots of young people lack face to face communication skills. I agree with her but at the same time am quick to point out that times have changed. Technology is changing everyday and there are two choices – jump on board for the ride or get left behind.

So to decipher the message I called my niece and asked her to explain the message – so simple and logical….why didn’t I see it! Why couldn’t I get it? A sign of the times I was raised in. I now look to include emoticons and text speak when engaging in text messages with younger people.

What this experience taught me is to stop and consider that perhaps there is nothing wrong with text speak – it is merely communication changing and that there is no right or wrong just differences.

LOL – C u 2moz!

The link below is to an article which discusses texting and its impact on spelling.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20060601/ai_n16461902