ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE: What’s All This Tech Talk?

BIRDS OF A FEATHER WILL FLOCK TOGETHER

Follow the Tweety Bird, Right?

I’m open-minded to using new advancements in technology and communicating with others through different channels. I understand this @Me, @You, @WeAreAwesome, @ListenToMe, @MyBrand, @WhoAreYou on Twitter and now appearing everywhere. I wonder how did this shorthand “tech talk” evolve and what does it mean to the future of communication?

"Copy and study this list of text messaging spelling words. We will have a test tomorrow."

The social media ninjas and mavens equate Twitter to a conversation between others at a party. Yet, more people at business events are communicating with one another picking up their phone to make a Twitter statement rather than walking over to carry on a conversation. In some strange way by attending an event with a room full of people sharing a similar hashtag creates a safe environment to connect to the panel and/or the audience. I appreciate the opportunity to read different viewpoints from others sharing their thoughts on Twitter. Although it surprises me that some are still too shy to approach one another in a real face-to-face conversation. For others, the mobile medium is just the thing to make the introduction easier to break the ice and say hello.

BRB, LOL, RT, bit.ly, ow.ly, #hashtag, ^KS

Do you ever wonder who chooses the characters that are adopted by many to speak with one another on Twitter? Why is this language appearing in other everyday conversations that it has become acceptable? As people increase the use of Smartphones, texting, Twitter and so forth, English is starting to become a second language as a set of digital words takes on new form.

Over the years, prestigious awards have been given to authors that have been recognized for their talents and their extraordinary use of the English language. During this day and age, we praise others for the most ‘LIKES’ and ‘Followers’ that have crafted their characters and content in a way to gain recognition. We edit our comments keeping things concise because time is precious to capture one’s attention. The popular search-engines start to highlight these commonly used terms and comments at the top of its rankings that others start to copy the style. As more people use new technology and the “talking trends” become mainstream, it’s all right to abbreviate in other areas of communication.

CRM, ABAP, GAAP, MoMA, OSHA

In business, employees use a set of acceptable acronyms instead of certain words to communicate with their colleagues and their audience. They even have an acronym finder online to help one understand the latest terminology! The ability for one to grasp new terms is important to comprehend, communicate, and keep on top of new business trends and product enhancements. Who determines this acceptable language of acronyms? Is it a group of high-level executives that make these terms formally accepted by employees and later funnels down to the marketing collateral and communications?

A New Language

In today’s society, we are obsessed with expressing our point-of-view with one stroke of a button limited to 140 characters. Some people write condensed statements such as ‘u’ instead of  writing ‘you’. In some cases, people have focused too much on their Facebook status/Twitter updates that they have neglected other forms of communication using proper structure and complete sentences.

Twitter Gibber

At one time, tweets such as “RT @kerisays, Twitter worth $3.7 billion http://tcrn.ch/hizxcZ! Twitter birds will flock, talk and tweet tonight at Boston’s #MegaTweetUp. See you there,” didn’t have much meaning to most. Today, it’s a common use of symbols and words understood by followers. The frequent use of email, text, Twitter, and Facebook updates have caused people to accept this new form of speech for everyday conversations. The introduction of Twitter created a new language and set of rules, as well as new businesses that have sprung up for people to tweet, ReTweet, post, and abbreviate their conversations.

Although it’s sometimes hard to define all these digital words and abbreviations as they’re constantly changing, it’s also interesting to learn how people seek new ways to be accepted by others, connect and communicate.

I hope in the near future we don’t start saying  “@Command = Hi, how are you?, @Command = Good, how are you?”

Don’t forget the human element and BE REAL. Remember when writing to someone, or speaking with your audience to connect through meaningful and memorable statements. Don’t just follow what seems to be the trend and believe it will help you to attract others. Adopting new styles of communication is fine in the right context, but we should not promote the poor usage of the English language with abbreviations and “tech talk” in other ways when corresponding with people.

Get Inspired to Reach Out to Someone Today

It’s been a while since I’ve sat down to write down my thoughts here. Over the last few months, I found myself busy like most of us working full-time while juggling my day-to-day activities that I have not contributed to my blog. It’s funny, I hear time and time again busy professionals not having a moment between work, assisting their families, spending time with friends, enjoying their hobbies and side projects that there is no time to for social media and explore all the new technological advancements at one’s fingertips. Now I can understand what they all meant. I missed blogging but I was occupied with other things that needed my attention. I realize it’s important to express one’s thoughts and get inspired to reach out to someone. It can be damaging to one professionally and personally when not actively learning about new advancements, trying new things, and exploring this new digital playground. It’s important to stay abreast of the new things on the horizon and how society is adopting new forms of communication to reach the masses. In fact, it could alleviate the necessary time for one to conduct his/her daily activities, as well as discover it to become more manageable.

There is still something to be said for those that have a good balance between the virtual and the real world. We rely a lot on our cell phones and other technical toys. I admit that I love my new iPhone, but you won’t find me hugging it at the end of the day!

This digital and mobile world opens our eyes to consider new ways of engaging with others more personally for when we dream, love, listen, satisfy a need or a want, explore, and perhaps help us learn a thing or two about others and ourselves.

The George Clooney movie Up in the Air  features him traveling around the world having to bring bad news to those people being laid off from different companies. Many of us over the last year have had to face that same reality. I’ve learned from each encounter and knew it was God’s way of looking out for my best interest that something better was around the corner.

Eventually in the movie, George’s side-kick felt strongly about adopting new digital media to help make the process of letting people go from companies more efficient. She was young, savvy, smart and determined to prove him wrong and perhaps even drive him out of a job. However, after her reality of facing numerous employees day after day to be laid off, she learned that no computer could replace such a personal matter. Still to this day, there are certain things that will NEVER replace those personal interactions. However, we need to embrace the new and make sure to balance it with the old in a way that helps to do good for others, grow businesses and learn from one another.

Even if one takes a half-hour a day to comment on a blog, twitter a thought, check out a new perspective on an article and provide feedback, or learn about a new start-up in the social media space, could help you and your business. Do take a step each day to reach out into the digital world, try something new. Go out there to share your perspective. We can all benefit from each other’s digital footprints, as well as embrace the handshakes, personal interactions and of course someone’s smile.