discoursology

In a recent issue of ELT Journal, Vol 62(1), David Cristal comments on the linguistic phenomenon of texting (pdf). His commentary is introduced by two excellent poems by Norman Silver. This one is from Age, Sex, Location txt cafe. 2006.

langwij
langwij
is hi-ly infectious

children
the world ova
catch it
from parence
by word of mouth

the yung
r specially vulnerable
so care
shud b taken how langwij
is spread

symptoms include acute
goo-goo
& the equally serious ga-ga

if NE child
is infected with langwij
give em
3 Tspoons of txt
b4 bedtime
& ½ a tablet of verse
after every meal

See also David Crystal’s new book (2008) Txting: the Gr8 Db8. Oxford: Oxford University Press.