Activity for the book My Psychology

Show Me More: 7.3 Is Texting Killing Language?

View the Show Me More video and then answer the questions.

B Christopher/Alamy

View the video (Opens in new window)

Question 1 1

Linguist John McWhorter suggests that texting is, in fact, not actually a form of classical writing. Why does he make this claim?

Choice A, There is no way to emphasize specific points when we text.

Choice B, Text messaging uses no grammar, structure, or punctuation.

Choice C, Texting is more similar to the way in which we speak than the manner in which we write.

Choice D, Text messages are more open to misinterpretation than is the written word.

Question 2 2

When people speak in a casual manner, they tend to utilize “packets” of about blank words.

Choice A, 3 to 5

Choice B, 7 to 10

Choice C, 12 to 20

Choice D, no more than 25

Question 3 3

According to this video, “lol” may have been used to indicate laughter or amusement when texting was new, but in the “language” of texting it is now an example of a(n) blank particle.

Choice A, pragmatic

Choice B, amorphic

Choice C, extraneous

Choice D, affirmative

Question 4 4

In this TED Talk, Dr. McWhorter notes that adolescent use of text messaging actually serves as

Choice A, a manner of speaking that is akin to hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt.

Choice B, a lazy way to communicate using the least amount of effort possible.

Choice C, an expansion of adolescents’ linguistic abilities.

Choice D, an indication that language arts being taught in school is failing.