A study by Kaplan International Colleges asked more than 150 English learners from 44 countries about their use of “text speak” such as LOL and OMG in everyday life. The results are published in Kaplan’s English for Teenagers Infographic.
The vast majority of respondents said they use text speak only online or while texting, with the most common reason (given by 77% of participants) being that it is faster than writing full words. However, 5% admitted using text speak while writing essays, and 3% had used it on exams.
When asked “Do you think your English grammar or spelling is worse due to using text speak?” 63% of the English learners surveyed answered “No.”
Researchers at Coventry University have found no negative link between text speak and literacy skills – and there may even be a bright side. Due to the highly phonetic nature of common text speak and abbreviations, they can actually enhance spelling ability and understanding of how spoken sounds translate into written form.
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This post comes from Kaplan International Colleges.
Kaplan International Colleges is part of Kaplan, Inc., an international education services provider offering higher education, professional training, and test preparation. Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO). http://www.kaplaninternational.com
