Txting is Killing Language. JK!!!

Txting is Killing Language. JK!!!
https://www.ted.com/talks/john_mcwhorter_txtng_is_killing_language_jk/transcript?language=en

During this TED talk, John McWhorter discusses how the use of texting is not and will not be the downfall of serious writing and literature within upcoming generations of people. As a texter myself, I found this rather comforting, because during the past ten years or so I have been hearing from teachers, relatives, friends, etc. that texting is killing language skills in my generation. McWhorter explains that when talking about the existence of all language in the human race, writings have not come about until very recently on our timeline. So to say that texting, being only one form of casual writing, could possibly destroy all other forms of serious writing is simply false. He states that "We naturally tend to think, because we see language written so often, that that's what language is, but actually what language is, is speech. They are two things."

Therefore, texting is a form of writing that represets the way we normally talk, aka casual speech. Speeches, novels, poetry, etc. are all forms of serious writings, and they do not depict how we actually speak. However, when reciting speeches or poetry we are then speaking how we write, so would it not make sense that we could also write how we speak? That's what texting is. It does not exist because we are slowly becoming lazy in our efforts to write our thoughts. In fact, there is evidence that writings from the past, even as far back as 63A.D, show concern for the lack of structure and education in the way people wrote.

So, it's not just a 21st century problem. It is something we have been dealing with for centuries, and texting is just a new form of casual writing that will not destroy our ability to communicate on a serious, intellectual level. I agree with McWhorter's stance; however, I would have liked for him to touch on the differnt texting styles that exist. The examples he gave of current texters do not show how the entire population who has a cell phone would text. Some people use correct grammar and punctuation, and some don't.