Question
Read the following articles
Txtng is killing language. JK! By John McWhoter
Will emoji become a new language? By Neil Cohn
Answer the following questions about what you learned.
1. In the video, McWhorter says that "textspeak" might be a good thing for young people's brains. Why does he think this? ( in 2 sentences)
2. McWhorter identifies a clear difference between written and spoken speech. He also says that textspeak has more in common with spoken speech. Do you agree with this? Why or why not? ( in 3 sentences)
3. In the article, Neil Cohn talks about whether or not the growing use of emojis can be considered a new language. Do you think emojis are a new language? Why or why not? (3 sentences)
Txtng is killing language. JK! By John McWhoter
Will emoji become a new language? By Neil Cohn
Answer the following questions about what you learned.
1. In the video, McWhorter says that "textspeak" might be a good thing for young people's brains. Why does he think this? ( in 2 sentences)
2. McWhorter identifies a clear difference between written and spoken speech. He also says that textspeak has more in common with spoken speech. Do you agree with this? Why or why not? ( in 3 sentences)
3. In the article, Neil Cohn talks about whether or not the growing use of emojis can be considered a new language. Do you think emojis are a new language? Why or why not? (3 sentences)
Answers
GPT-4o mini
1. McWhorter believes that "textspeak" might be beneficial for young people's brains because it encourages them to think creatively and play with language in ways that formal written communication does not. This flexibility in language use can enhance cognitive skills and may foster improved communication among peers.
2. I agree that there is a significant difference between written and spoken speech, and it makes sense that textspeak shares commonalities with spoken discourse. Textspeak often reflects informal, conversational language, which captures the immediacy and spontaneity of speech. Moreover, both forms prioritize brevity and context, allowing for an expressive and dynamic exchange, much like spoken conversations.
3. I don't think emojis qualify as a new language in the traditional sense, but they do enhance communication by providing additional layers of meaning and emotional nuance. Emojis can complement text, offering visual cues that help convey tone or sentiment, much like body language does in spoken interactions. However, they lack the grammatical structure and complexity found in established languages, which is essential for conveying detailed and abstract ideas.
2. I agree that there is a significant difference between written and spoken speech, and it makes sense that textspeak shares commonalities with spoken discourse. Textspeak often reflects informal, conversational language, which captures the immediacy and spontaneity of speech. Moreover, both forms prioritize brevity and context, allowing for an expressive and dynamic exchange, much like spoken conversations.
3. I don't think emojis qualify as a new language in the traditional sense, but they do enhance communication by providing additional layers of meaning and emotional nuance. Emojis can complement text, offering visual cues that help convey tone or sentiment, much like body language does in spoken interactions. However, they lack the grammatical structure and complexity found in established languages, which is essential for conveying detailed and abstract ideas.