"Shorthand contractions, along with letter-number homophones ("gr8" and
"2moro," for example), emoticons (like the tiresome colon-and-parenthesis
smiley face) and acronyms (like the ubiquitous "lol," for "laughing out loud"),
constitute the language of text-messaging - or txt msg, to use the term that
txt msgrs prefer. Text-messaging is a refinement of computer instant-messaging,
which came into vogue five or six years ago. "(see Truls Erik Johnsen
recommended article,
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/magazine/22wwln_lead.html).
It seems that things are transforming in a big way. Here in China, we used to
consider the handwriting of Chinese characters an art form. Indeed, it is a
rather crucial part of Chinese national culture. A good piece of handwriting is
often worth millions ( The rich and powerful are still collecting the ancient
Chinese calligraphers' works). But the fact is, the students do not practice or
value that anymore. They type and use shorthands and emoticons. When they are
not doing the typing, they speak and often speak through mobile phones. Most of
students' calligraphies are simply very "ugly" or anything but artistic. The
point is, there has been a strong argument about the flourish of
multiculturalism in the process of globalization. It may be true in some
aspects. But it is also reasonable to ask what are the bases for those cultures
if the younger generations have no respect to the stuff that the national
cultures are resided or embedded. So are we going to live in "universal
culture" where mobile voices, digital images, and shorthand or emoticon
featured texts dominate?
B. Y.
**************************************
Boxu Yang, PhD
Professor
School of Journalism and Communication
Peking University
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
**************************************.
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Discussions on mobile communicaitons and social change"
<[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 6:01 PM
Subject: [mobile-society] NYT: The Pleasures of the Text (Intern)
"The Pleasures of the Text. Text-messaging liberates communication from
intimacy and substance. No wonder we love it."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/magazine/22wwln_lead.html
Truls Erik Johnsen
Telenor R&D
