Stefanie Hopkins Professor Sue Briggs English 1010 October 15, 2013

Take that Shakespeare! ;)

Admittedly I am one of the many who is not only not a huge texter but even despise it at times and its lack of connectedness and also its breaking of language, punctuation and vocabulary rules. Saving time has never been its appeal to me either, its more like frustration of one more thing Ive got to be multi-tasking at! However, in David Crystals essay 2b or Not 2b, he creatively and with much credibility brings in another side and perspective of the argument of the texting language. Crystal, is not only a professor at the University of Wales and well known for his work in the English language studies and linguistics(335), but he has also published countless books, including Txting: The Gr8 Db8 (2008) that this particular essay is also seen in, on his research of language. So if theres one who knows language background then knowing this would definitely leave one to say that when he talks about language-he knows his stuff. In his essay, Crystal very immediately and clearly brings in his argument by giving specifics of what the other side of the anti-texting argument is, and who his argument is clearly directed to. This is what he does to begin his foundation of beginning the pattern of appealing to the emotion of something we use every day. And then following with legitimate, simple, and clear

credibility- continually. His rhetorical effectiveness and strategy deems to be highly effective in his argument. He moves to give a new perspective and thought that not only is texting and the controversy that coincide with it not new, but in his own words the need to save time and energy is by no means the whole story of texting(341), and there is so much more to it. Crystals appeal of emotion begins firstly with his bringing you in to the counter argument as bleak, bald, sad shorthand. Drab shrinktalk(335) as one of his first uses of counterargument, John Sutherland of University College London, points out. It masks dyslexia, poor spelling and mental laziness. Texting is penmanship for illiterates(335)as Sutherland goes on to say. Crystals choice of this immediately puts it into a perspective for many and especially hearing the argument of texting and its relevance that Im sure many of us have heard many times before. He makes it personal by appealing to our emotion to draw us in, and even peaks interest for those who are ones who feel something similar to texting. He does not stop there though and follows almost immediately with his counter of logic and credibility on the point brought up each time, and which I will get to in just a moment. All throughout, Crystal appeals to emotion on many things from the scandals people first thought of things such as the telegraph when it first came about to the ability to express and intensify emotion in such things as poetry and writing, with a text poem you stay focused as it were in the now of each arriving line.(343), as he quotes Peter Sansom a judge of a Guardian competition in 2002. This use of rhetorical strategy keeps it interesting, personal, and fun. This way of his using pathos is effective in making his argument more relatable and personable with bringing you in on a level that not only intrigues you but also gives more appeal and is comfortable and understandable. Crystal continues this throughout the entire article.

Fun as it be though, like I said previously he knows his history and research on the topic and that is where he continually backs up his use of emotion appeal with logic and credibility. When I first was reading the essay this combination at first seemed to make the piece almost seem a bit confusing and chaotic when he would bring these facts out of thin air, but as I dove more in to it I noticed and realized more of this pattern of his of following with research and historical references after his statements referring to emotion. Crystal early on begins his reference to research, and especially at times to counter after bringing up the nay-sayers of texting argument. Bringing attention to many facts from how common shortened phrases like IOU have dated back to dates like 1618, and the use of deviant spelling(340) has been used by many well known authors like, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Walter Scott, DH Lawrence(340). Most interestingly was his use of a study that he mentions lastly in his essay that shows proof that texting can actually increase reading and vocabulary in ch ildren, The latest studies (from a team at Coventry University) have found strong positive links between the use of text language and the skills underlying success in standard English in pre-teen children. The more abbreviations in their messages, the higher they scored on tests of reading and vocabulary(345). Crystals knowledge base of language shows through and is highly effective in his rhetorical choices and making his argument all throughout. Crystals pattern is seen throughout, but there are certain parts where the overabundance and here-and-there of a large variety of information on the subject is where it does seem to lose momentum and focus in parts. Particularly, towards the end in about the middle to end of page 343 and for about a page from there. I wonder that if some things, that were of less relevancy, would have been left out that it could have possibly strengthened his argument even more.

Reference many times to SMS is also where this piece is a little dated considering the vast and continual fast pace of texting technology and how much it has evolved and not longer an issue now. That too might be a question of his effectiveness in the area of kairos but I think most, like myself, can understand this and it can simply be over-looked in getting the most important and clear idea overall. Texting is still widely and currently used. Texting and abbreviating language is something we not only use but that we see over and over again in our worlds of rapid changing technology. Crystals use of his vast knowledge, information, and research to bring logical answers to his counters arguments was not only highly effective in making this relatable and clear but directly effective in his argument. If it would have been this alone though it would have been dry, boring and unappealing. His use of creativeness and appeal to our emotions and in something we use every day is very fun and relatable, and is where this most ties in its effectiveness. In his references and ideas speak that texting is language in motion and its something weve been using and doing for centuries. Like all pieces yes there were things that were lagging a bit and could have been done differently to strengthen. Mostly though, and in using his last sentence, pretty much sums up Crystals effectiveness in what new perspective it gave to this anti-texting girl and offers to others. In texting what we are seeing, in a small way, is language in evolution (345).