Are "sms" and "IMs" ruining the english language....

=== RESPONSES === //The question is not howmany faults english has, the question is " Are SMSs destroying our language"// Yes, I see that very clearly. My argument for why SMS is not destroying the language is that English is unnecessarily complex and that SMS is a movement in the direction of simplification. //"here is no doubt that the Web and other modern technology have a significant impact on what and how we write. But is it the effect positive? Is language suffering?// Haha, a grammatical error from your source. How ironic. //2B Or nt 2Bs d ? wtr ts nblr in mnd t sffr slngs nd ROs of otrgs frtun Or tk rms agnst ac f trbls nd by oppsing end thm? to die to zzz....// I've never seen anything like this used before. Now, I'm not saying you're lying about it, but just saying that you saw this from your friend is definitely not a legitimate source. //In a poll held by keeptouch.net, 53% voters had view that yes SMS and IMs are indeed destroying english Language..// Your source is some vague forum that is in no way a recognized polling organization. //other parts of arguments// I'd just like to point out that you had various spelling and/or grammar mistakes. This doesn't effect your arguments but you've got to admit it's pretty funny and it also gives me the point for that. === ARGUMENTS 2 === The Meme-ology of SMS --- It's usefulness --- Why it won't replace regular English SMS is a meme. "A meme (pronounced /ˈmiːm/, rhyming with "cream") is a postulated unit of cultural ideas, symbols or practices, which can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals or other imitable phenomena. (The word is a blend of "gene" and the Greek word μιμητισμός (/mɪmetɪsmos/) for "something imitated".) Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes, in that they self-replicate and respond to selective pressures." [1] It has come about existence due to a cultural need for it. It has come about from the conscious decision of each individual who uses it because they reasoned it to be useful for their situation. A completely grass-roots movement without a coercive central authority. SMS can be thought more of as a code than a language. "To assume that text messaging will "destroy" the English language shows a certain lack of understanding on the part of the person holding this misconception. Texting is still English. The people using this form of "written" English are still communicating in English. To understand what is being typed, they must have a good understanding of syntax and grammar already. They must be able to recognize speech and sentence patterns, to predict accurately what someone is going to say, especially since the words probably won't be typed out. Unfortunately, for many young people, this understanding is so fundamental that they can't access it in any way other than through texting. With all the abbreviations and acronyms used in typing text messages, texting reads like some sort of code. This is nothing new. In fact, what you are reading now is a code. It is a code that many of us understand because we have been taught this code by the adults and other people we accept as linguistic authorities. This code relates ideas in the English language. So does Morse code, which is a system of sounds transcribed as dots and dashes that represent messages interpreted as recognizable English by those people who understand the code. However, it doesn't sound or look anything like the code I'm currently using. The use of codes is widespread, from law enforcement agencies to businesses to criminal organizations. Each one uses a code exclusive to it, except maybe in the case of street gangs. Military groups use codes no one else understands so that ideas in English may be communicated without being easily intercepted. Businesses may use codes simply for ease of communication. Even outside of any code, business communication already uses its own grammatical standards, which can be just as strict as those in English classrooms." [2] So you see, SMS serves a specific purpose like any other code which is a modification of English. It makes the job it is applicated to more efficient. It won't be replacing English, both forms have their place independent of whatever flaws they may have. Furthermore, lets just assume for a second, and hear me out, that SMS does end up replacing English(which is ridiculous)...so what? All you have attempted to do is provide evidence that it may do so but not that this would necessarily be a bad thing. Now, I'm not saying that it would be a good thing, I'm just saying you haven't proved your point. It may or may not actually improve the language. I thank my opponent for this interesting debate and urge the voters to give him the conduct point for my forfeit. === SOURCES === 1. http://en.wikipedia.org... 2. http://www.helium.com...