Does Instant Messaging Promote Better Teen Language?
A study says that "although IM shared some of the patterns used in speech, its vocabulary and grammar tended to be relatively conservative. For example, teenagers are more likely to use the phrase "He was like, 'What's up?' than 'He said, 'What's up?' when speaking - but the opposite is true when they are instant-messaging. This supports the idea that IM represents a hybrid form of communication." New Scientist 05/15/08

Posted May 15, 2008 06:40 PM