Can you do self-insemination at home ?
I can recall a time when people debated the appropriateness of using the term “text” as a verb. “How do we even conjugate it in the past tense?” we wondered, incredulously. “You say, ‘I texted’? That’s absurd.” Merriam Webster notes that the verb form of “text” first emerged in 1998, and today, we use it casually without a second thought.
From the outset of texting, some linguists have claimed it marks the decline of the English language. John Sutherland, a Professor of Modern English Literature at University College London, labeled texting as “penmanship for illiterates” in a 2002 article in the Guardian, predicting that it would be a fleeting trend that would fade away in a couple of years. “If you don’t text now,” he asserted, “it’s not worth learning: in a couple of years voice recognition systems will kick in.” Oh well, some predictions don’t age well, right? I’m sure many of Sutherland’s insights weren’t completely off base.
Language Evolves, And Texting Is A Part Of That
Sutherland’s overconfidence in his linguistic foresight serves as a cautionary tale, particularly for those of us who utter the phrase “kids these days.” Criticizing how younger generations communicate often doesn’t hold up over time. Gretchen McCulloch, the author of Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language and co-host of the podcast Lingthusiasm, argues that texting represents just another mode of communication and is a natural aspect of our language’s evolution. She points out that texting has its own set of rules and conventions, which vary significantly based on context: older individuals text differently than younger ones, and messages to friends differ from those sent to colleagues.
The focus of communication can also shift. “The old rules are about top-down structures, like ‘here’s how to use an apostrophe,’ ‘here’s how to use a semicolon,’” McCulloch explained in an NPR interview. “The new rules concern how others interpret your tone of voice. … The old rules aimed to display intellectual superiority, while the new ones aim to forge connections between people.”
Periods Are Aggressive. Apparently.
Recently, a friend posed an interesting question on Facebook: “Both of my teens believe that periods in texts are ‘aggressive.’ Are they broken?” After 228 comments, there was no consensus on whether periods are indeed aggressive, but trends emerged: younger users perceive a period as akin to a death stare, while older generations argue, “But … punctuation. It indicates the end of a sentence. Hello.”
Having sent countless texts, I tend to empathize with the younger crowd on this issue: I often forego periods, and when I receive a text punctuated with one, I have to pause, considering the context to determine if the sender is upset or just punctilious. McCulloch also addressed this period debate in her NPR interview, explaining that as texting evolved, the period was increasingly dropped. In formal writing, a period marks the end of a sentence, while in texting, hitting send serves that purpose. Thus, to a younger person, the text “awesome” conveys excitement, whereas “Awesome.” might be interpreted as sarcastic. (Think: “Ugh, awesome,” with an eye roll.)
Texting Isn’t The Ruin Of Grammar, Either
In a recent episode of her podcast Lingthusiasm, McCulloch tackled the notion that kids are destroying language through texting. A 2012 study claimed that more time spent texting correlated with declining grammar skills. However, upon closer inspection, linguists found the correlation statistically insignificant and attributed it to grade level. Additionally, the study only assessed middle schoolers with a 20-question grammar test, neglecting to evaluate their writing clarity or ability to articulate ideas.
According to McCulloch and various other studies, informal text language is not indicative of poor formal writing skills. In fact, a 2010 study by M.A. Drouin from Indiana University–Purdue University found that students who texted more often performed better on tests for grammar, spelling, and reading fluency.
Kids Are Writing More Than Ever Before
It stands to reason, doesn’t it? Kids are constantly engaging in written expression. Although their texts might lack proper punctuation and grammar, that does not mean they are incapable of writing. As a professional writer, I notice a significant difference between my thumb-typed texts on my phone and the content I produce on my laptop. When texting, I often overlook spelling and grammatical rules, but on my computer, I automatically apply punctuation. My children follow the same pattern: their texts may be chaotic, but their school assignments adhere to appropriate spelling and grammar conventions for their grade level and sometimes exceed them.
Texting Accelerates Language Evolution
With our increased connectivity, language evolves at an unprecedented pace. Every year, hundreds of new words find their way into Merriam Webster. Our digital interconnectivity not only allows new terms to spread rapidly but also enables older generations to learn younger generations’ slang through platforms like Urban Dictionary, often diluting their coolness in the process (RIP, “on fleek”).
Texting has become almost a separate language, complete with its own expectations, shorthand, and implied meanings. Its value in sharing ideas is equal to that of formal written English. Our children will continually astonish us with their ability to switch between informal text-speak and the more formal language required for academic writing. They will undoubtedly also impress us with their creative capacity to generate new words faster than we can keep up with.
No cap.
For more insights on home insemination and parenting, check out our blog post here. Also, for authoritative information on the subject, visit intracervicalinsemination.com and ASRM, which are excellent resources for pregnancy and home insemination.