Texting, a language in very rapid evolution (fwd link)

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Texting, a language in very rapid evolution

CHENNAI, December 10, 2009
D. MURALI
India

Why did texting become so popular so quickly? Partly because texting was less
expensive than voice on mobiles, reasons David Crystal in ‘Txtng: The Gr8 Db8’
(www.oup.com). Apart from the economic factors, it was the nature of the
communicating medium itself that proved appealing, he continues.

“Among young people, in particular, texting quickly emerged as an index of
belonging
 I would also expect texting to become an index of prestige, within a
group, as some members develop special kinds of expertise, such as texting speed
or creative coinages.”

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http://beta.thehindu.com/arts/books/article62935.ece