Summary: 2 Be or Not 2 Be (David Crystal)

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Summary: 2b or Not 2b Author: David Crystal The author of this article, David Crystal, effectively adopts the rationale about the evils of texting expressed by authors, John Humphrys and John Sutherland. The author advances the argument of the evils of texting by includes John Humphry’s quote, which describes texting as an act of vandalism and savagery; a massacre of the language. And thus; he argues, the practice should be stopped. John Sutherland equally decries texting as the decomposition of the written language and admonishes in his summation that texting is a tool used by illiterates. Mr. Crystal then reverses his augment and effectively begins to layout a defense for texting by describing commonly held opinions about technology and its effect on language. Beginning with early communication devices and how people had reservations about these inventions and the supposed negative effects on language. He marvels at the mixed emotions that this technology has aroused in humans, and how it has created a technological milestone. Texting as a way to transmit a message was born out of the development of a global system for communication networks in the mid-80s. By the 90s, it began to be used for commercial purposes. Text communication began to evolve in purpose and usage until it became a utilitarian tool for which companies could charge for providing the service. Companies became highly successful in devising pricing structures that made texting highly profitable. From 2001 through 2005 text messaging throughout the world increased exponentially, surpassing a trillion in 2005. Mr. Crystal cites the distinct habits of individual texters. He describes how they choose to use linguistic and orthography rules and ultimately how intelligible writing is maintained. Mr. Crystal states that there really is no novelty in the way texts are written since texting

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