Another day, another study:

The study finds that instant messaging language does mirror patterns in speech, but that teens, surprisingly, are actually using a fusion of different levels of diction. Teens are using both informal forms that their English teachers would never allow, yet they also use formal writing phrasing that, if used in speech, would likely be considered “uncool.”

“Everybody thinks kids are ruining their language by using instant messaging, but these teens’ messaging shows them expressing themselves flexibly through all registers,” says Tagliamonte. “They actually show an extremely lucid command of the language. We shouldn’t worry.”

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Actually, yes we should worry.  Kids having a command of the language is not the issue, really.  Kids utilizing that command of the language is a whole different issue.  I can’t tell you how many illegible comments I get over here from people who use the word “ppl” instead of people, and so on.

They’re not pulling that variation out of their butts.

I don’t care if it does have an effect on people, but let’s not kid ourselves here.  It does.

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