Text-speak and its Impact on formal communication
In the communication realm, text-speak refers to a form of language that is defined by the use of abbreviations, emoticons and acronyms used in instant messaging, text messaging and other forms of digital communication. Some people view this form of communication as a creative and effective way of sending a message. However, others argue that the overdependence on text-speak usually leads to poor writing skills and has a negative impact on communication skills. Regardless of the contentious debate and with each faction providing evidence on their stance, it is evident that text-speak as a form of communication is vital in enhancing writing skills and supplying missing cues in formal writing.
Text-speak as a form of writing is specific to digital communication as a means to deliver a message quickly. This method is thus not indicative of poor writing skills, and studies have indicated that people using text-speak tend to be more proficient in other forms of communication, especially formal communication such as email or social media. According to Grace et al. (2015), they carried out a study on the use of texting and its impact on formal writing among university students. Most students mentioned that text-speak is only appropriate in different communication modalities and terming it as inappropriate when engaging in formal communication such as emails, social media or when writing exams. A further check in the examination scripts of the students who relied heavily on text-speak indicated the negligible influence of text-speak and indicative of how text-speak does not influence writing skills. Similarly, on the use of emojis and emoticons, research has proven that they help supply the missing cues in what would otherwise be toneless communication. According to Manganari et al. (2021), using emojis is vital in enhancing the emotional content of text messages and helping convey messages that are difficult to express in writing. Using emoji create a sense of friendliness and approachability compared to those not using emoji.
Conciseness among business writers.
In the business world, communication is key, and it should thus be kept clear, short and familiar. Business writers need to be brief in most of their business communication for a host of reasons, including clarity, accessibility, efficiency, and making the message memorable. Starting with clarity, business writers need to use short and simple words, making it easier for the target audience to understand as opposed to when long and complex words are used (Zaim, 2021). Similarly, regarding accessibility, not everyone in the audience may have the same level of expertise or education in the subject matter being communicated. Therefore, by maintaining simple words, the writer can ensure that a wide range of readers can access the message.
Similarly, there is the topic of efficiency, where short and simple words are vital in making the audience get the message. With simple words, the message conveys the same idea but in a few words, making the message concise and easier to digest for the audience. Lastly, on being memorable, the communication made need to be easily remembered by the audience to which the message has been targeted. For this reason, business writers need to be brief in their messages as it helps people to remember most parts of the message they were targeted with (Zaim, 2021). Important to note that using short and simple words does not necessarily dumb down the business messages but helps to convey them most conveniently. However, there is a need for the business writer to take time to explain any technical terms or concepts that may be present and which the audience may be unfamiliar with.
The uniqueness of physical letters over emails
The observations carried out on the personal touch, and unique nature of physical letters over emails is well founded. A well-crafted business letter is indeed essential in demonstrating to the recipient the efforts that were put in to craft a thoughtful message that targets the intended audience (Maass et al., 2021). That said, the business letter can show a level of professionalism, attention and respect which is difficult to convey the same in an email. In that perspective, for individuals seeking to communicate or convey a message that needs prompt action, the physical letter is the appropriate avenue to do so over email.
Apart from the uniqueness and personal touch of the business letter, other special traits that can be seen in the physical letter are tangibility, formality, appealing structure and attention to detail. Starting with tangibility, the business letter as a physical document can be touched, stored or held, thus making it more powerful than the virtual email document. The fact that the letter can be stored makes it useful, especially in regulatory contexts where documentation is needed. Then, with the aspect of formality, business letters give a sense of formality over emails hence showing a sense of seriousness of purposes and professionalism. On the appealing structure, the business letters tend to follow a clear and structured format with specific sections that include the salutation, body and closing, thus making the messaging clear and easy to understand (Maass et al., 2021). Lastly, on attention to detail, the business letter offers more effort and attention to come up with content that makes the reader of the message notice how the writer is detailed hence taking this communication seriously. In a nutshell, while emails may be convenient and effective for many purposes, a good business letter is a powerful tool for conveying respect, professionalism and attention to detail.
References
Grace, A., Kemp, N., Martin, F. H., & Parrila, R. (2015). Undergraduates’ attitudes to text messaging language use and intrusions of textisms into formal writing. New Media & Society, 17(5), 792-809. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444813516832
Maass, M., Clement, M. P., & Hollick, M. (2021, August). Snail mail beats email any day: on effective operator security notifications in the internet. In Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Availability, Reliability and Security (pp. 1-13). https://doi.org/10.1145/3465481.3465743
Manganari, E. E. (2021). Emoji use in computer-mediated communication. The International Technology Management Review, 10(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.2991/itmr.k.210105.001
Zaim, M. (2021, September). Seven C’s Communication Skills Problems in Writing Business Letter of English Major Undergraduate Students. In Eighth International Conference on English Language and Teaching (ICOELT-8 2020) (pp. 108-112). Atlantis Press.
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