To What Extent Does Social Media Improve Language Development?

Social media has often been portrayed as having a negative impact on language development so much that defining language is now key to measuring what is meant by language growth and development. The concept of language as a communication key has needed renewed discussion with the introduction of technology and the many methods of interaction that it has brought to us as a society. Goodwin-Jones, 2003, said that social media has exponentially built a demand for language and that, in fact, it is responsible for the language of social media to be considered as a second language (qtd. In Irfan et al, 2012, Influence of Digital Social Media in Writing, 2003). Social media and its language covers many facets of our day including marketing, entertainment, workplace and in our casual hours. Over the past ten years social media has dominated societies to the point that engagement with platforms is almost inevitable. It has come under criticism for ‘dumbing down’ the language particularly amongst teens. Research by Kaplan Andreas and Michael, 2010, has shown that actually, this may not be true. The amount of time spent by users has meant that they have been constantly interacting with language in ways not previously possible. The language has been adaptive and personalised, leading to continual individual language development as a highlight and positive contribution of social media on language. Language is a social construct by which any means of language development plays a significant role. Social media is responsible for promoting communication and responsible for defining what it means to use language authentically. As a result, it plays a pivotal role in modern language development.

The ability to communicate has become more important than ever. The introduction of social media has meant that language usage has become more second nature because it surrounds us and comes in so many different forms. Social media has introduced the most comprehensive, flexible and extensive forms of communication that the human race has, and is still constantly developing. Ifran et al, 2012 explain that “Language is basically a source or tool of communication and plays an important role in all walks of life. It is a language which is used for transmission and communication among friends, family members, colleagues, and especially in the teaching learning process” (Irfan et al, 2012). The singular purpose of language is to communicate and to express thoughts between the transmitter and receiver, where successful communication is the measurement. “The totality of utterances that can be made in a speech community is the language of that speech community” (Leonard Bloomfield, 1914). Whilst there are many formal methods of measuring success and development of language the ultimate way of measuring development is simply the ability to have more complex communication. As language remains the most flexible method of communication, it promotes change and allows for personal modifications and adjustments to suit the individual need and situation. Language is a form of social behavior which allows people to identify and express themselves. ”The development of language is part of the development of the personality, for words are the natural means of expressing thoughts and establishing understanding between people” (Maria Montessori,). If we want to promote growth of language we need to recognize that language is a social behavior meaning we must recognize how society interacts. Today, that means through social media, where a community of language learners and users coexist. No matter their first language the introduction of social media has encouraged society to change their mindset and behavior around language growth in response to authentic context and need.

Social media reaches a wide audience and has created the illusion of one world the needs to communicate and think in new ways. Social media is often considered just to include popularly known applications but should be extended to any process that uses an online social community. “Social media has improved the world with amazing developments in communications, collaboration and efficiencies. New kinds of entertainment and social media give access to information and the ability to give a voice to people who would never have been heard.” (Bill Gates). Almost everyone is a participant in social media, whether passively or actively. This allows for a range of use throughout social media that continually links back to the singular role of communication. “Right now, with social networks and other tools on the Internet, all of these 500 million people have a way to say what they're thinking.” (Mark Zuckerberg). The sense of personal learning and engagement has meant individuals have responded to this form of communication to the point where it now dominates our societies. social media invites and requires us to explore language without the boundaries that perhaps our formal spoken languages possess. It is necessary to be language learners every day, “Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift. Learning a new language is becoming a member of the club – the community of speakers of that language.” (Frank Smith, 1992). Never before has language continued to grow, develop and change at such a rapid pace. Some argue that the in-surgence of these new languages are at the cost of traditional language. Whilst that may be debated for many years to come, it is clear that social media plays a central role in enabling language growth for everyone.

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The influence of social media has enabled easier, faster and more widespread communication. As a result, the language/s used to communicate have naturally evolved with some concerned that the integrity of language has been lost in this process and made messages much shorter and less complex than ever before. This has created the common belief and worry that the short and abbreviated language used on social is trickling down into abbreviated conversations, creating a myth that language is deteriorating. The demand for faster and more convenient communication has become very much of a habit.This creates a concern that if communication remains shorter as does its value and meaning, “The use of informal language as influenced by social media seems to have made English simpler, but the ability to communicate deep thoughts is perhaps eroded” (Zappavigna2012). This freedom of communication and accessibility to the audience, matched with an ability to communicate at fast speed creates a situation where we continue to desire that individuality. The irony is that the more freedom we have over our language the more it seemingly becomes worse. Favilla, 2017, says, “English has always evolved – that’s what it means to be a living language – and now the internet plays a pivotal role in driving this evolution. It’s where we talk most freely and naturally, and where we generally pay little heed to whether or not our grammar is correct.” At the same time, this also raises concerns over accuracy of language developed, the role of grammar in language and to what level these new languages hinder effective language learning. The ability to use the right language at the right time remains is in danger of being lost, “We don’t need to reconcile the casual way we talk in a text or on social media with, say, the way we string together sentences in a piece of journalism, because they’re different animals” (Favilla, 2017). The greatest worry about social media and language is that it is all relatively new so there is a sense of loss of control. Language fluidity is a risk and there is a real belief that there is no ability to regain what we may lose what is tangible. Social Media is ultimately virtual and seems unaccountable to being measured for quality control of language usage. This is the catalyst for the re-thinking on the purpose of language and what determines successful language development.

Despite the criticisms of social media, researchers are now findinging that the range and depth of learning is exponential which highlights the significant role that social media plays in providing context in today's society (Mundt, 2018). We are rediscovering the purpose of language and therefore are able to be open minded as to the ways in which language can be enhanced more creatively, and perhaps differently than traditionally expected. Language is developed in context for a wide range of purposes through social media. It is part of a virtual world, where “Its hold over language usage is evident in the amount of communications we have daily, the number of people with whom we communicate” (Wilson 2014). Along with a new ‘world’ a new language has surfaced, one that supports the theory of language being ever changing and arbitrary, providing a range of opportunities for change and development. This theory emphasizes that,“Some might see this as a negative but the truth is that the English language has never been static; words fall into and out of use and new styles and requirements have their impact.”('How Social Media Can Improve Your Writing Skills' 2019). In terms of formal language development, language courses can be accessed by formal testing, by meeting others to converse with and to do trade with and through the level of communication taking place at any one time. Research has shown that vocabulary building, for instance, improves due to access of information. The language used because of authentic purpose and connection is also a feature of development because of social media. Faster communication requires faster language. It is important that users can interpret between their own first language and the language used for engagement whilst also recognising the range of different language spoken in different social media platforms. Holistically, language growth is exponential and not restrained. “You can never understand one language until you understand at least two” (Lee, 2017). As people discover new and different methods of expressing their ideas language begins to evolve and change. Social media has facilitated language evolution and allows for language to reflect the people who used it: “Its ever-evolving nature leaves our language in a continuous state of alteration and regeneration” (Wilson 2014).

Language is constantly evolving to respond to each community. The introduction of social media has expanded the possibilities for connection, usage and understanding. Social media brings people together for language learning, socialising, entertaining, for research and has enabled language development in ways not formally thought possible. As Lantz-Anderrson,2017, says, It has developed the ability for users to build language through second language (social media communication). Social media language is a new phenomena in our society and it has been brought about by the prevalence of social networking sites which have brought about new channels of communication. At the center of the language used on social media is morphology as new words are being formed and used on social networks and further introduced in everyday used language and with that introduced into mainstream dictionaries (Social Media Language, 2019).Ultimately, language is only useful when it is for purpose. The world we live in today has expanded our opportunities and open minds to the possibilities of exploring language in ways we did not think would be possible, or necessary. The complexity of language being developed and used because of social media is extraordinary and, to the delight of the cynics, is being translated into more effective language usage and development in schools, universities and the workplace. It is the virtual world working in harmony with the literal. For communities to continue to grow and build language, social media must remain central to modern language development. The implications for a common global language seem closer and closer with greater accessibility for a greater number of users. Social Media has shown us that communication and language development has never been as important as it is today.

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