The United States is no longer a nation of readers. We are no longer a nation of writers. We aren’t even a nation of talkers anymore. We have become a nation of shorthand communicators. The well-constructed sentence no longer holds intrinsic value because of its usefulness in communicating complex ideas. Instead, we increasingly gravitate to abbreviated forms of communication that rely on not only a syntax that may be at odds with standard English, but that use an entirely new lexicon that is rapidly infusing the ways in which we write and talk to each other. In fact, this lexicon is developing and spreading so quickly that it is arguably the fastest growing language in the world. This new language of the 21st century is not Spanish or Japanese or even standard English. The new language is called Text, and it’s sweeping the globe like a pandemic flu.
Despite its shortcomings, texting is a cornerstone of contemporary communication. 18.5 billion text messages are sent each month, and the number of text messages sent annually has exploded, growing by 250% in each of the past two years1. Experts expect the number of texts sent each month to reach 80 billion in 2008. With text messaging growing at this exponential rate, it cannot help but exert an influence on our communication strategies in the corporate and educational sectors. Generation Text is alive, well, and communicating constantly, 160 bytes at a time.
Text language abbreviates complex messages into fragments of ideas that flash to a reader approximately 160 characters at a time. Anecdotal evidence gathered from both college students and entry-level workers suggests that today’s readers comprehend information in similar sized chunks, due in equal parts to (1) a cultural unwillingness to read anything longer than an online news story and (2) the frequency with which today’s readers are exposed to text messaging, rendering it our primary form of communication. This exposure translates to readers processing chunks of information about the size of text messages; when material is not broken down into these small, byte-sized pieces, comprehension flags and interest wanes. Our sound-byte culture has devolved into a sight-byte readership.
As Generation Text enters the workforce, the ways in which its members communicate are leading to a culture clash of sorts. Those of us who have been around for a while, who grew up “back in the day,” grumble about the ever-present texting that takes priority over whatever or whomever is in front of the texter. We label the inattentive texting in the midst of a conversation as rude at best and unprofessional at worst. On the other hand, Generation Text argues that their behavior is efficient, commonplace, and provides a means of engaging with people who aren’t currently in their physical space while simultaneously attending, at least on some level, to what is going on in front of them. It allows them to remain in the loop.
Formal written communication among Generation Texters increasingly reflects the lexicon of their preferred mode of communication. How often do we see emails that include text lingo: UR right. IDK. CU latr. BRB. As texting continues to flourish as the communication of choice for Generation Text, professionals need to consider the extent to which they are willing to be represented in this form and with this language. Does text lingo present the public face that we want to show to colleagues, customers, and partners? To what degree are we willing to sacrifice clarity for expediency? As professionals who strive to communicate efficiently and clearly, the emergence of Generation Text raises several questions:
- To what extent will my company be well-served by sending official communication that uses text jargon?
- To what extent am I willing to compromise conventional language use in order to appeal to Generation Text?
- What impact will the integration of sight-byte language into routine communication have on a company’s image and perceived professionalism?
- To what extent will my communication efforts be inhibited if I choose to engage in sight-byte language? Or if I choose not to?
Generation Text provides a variety of challenges to conventional communication strategies. Whether through formal company policies, training in appropriate business communication skills, or informal discussions among colleagues, the role of texting in the workplace will increasingly present a challenge that Corporate America is going to be unable to ignore.
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