32 Unit 02 | It’s all relative Imagine you are writing an article about modern texting etiquette. What key rules would you discuss? Think of five rules and compare them with your partner’s. Read the article below. Does it mention any of the rules on your list? READING 26a b Texting dos and don’ts Texting has become our default mode of communication. What may once have been a letter, voicemail, phone call or email, now often arrives as a text. This makes it tough to know what proper texting etiquette is today, but maybe we can all agree on these rules: We’re done fighting over capital letters and punctuation Sorry, sticklers7, this ship has sailed. A good text has to make sense to its recipient, but that shouldn’t require consulting a grammar book. In a text message, skipping the capitalisation or leaving off a question mark doesn’t denote a lack of respect. Responses aren’t mandatory, but acknowledgements are nice Keep in mind that unanswered texts can make some people feel anxious. A short note letting them know you have seen their message if you don’t have time to respond right away can help prevent some text-related suffering. Don’t be a texting wet blanket8 Plenty of us have poured our hearts out over text, only to get “OK” or a thumbs-up in response. Don’t be that person – always try to match your conversation partner’s energy. Also keep in mind that different generations have different texting styles. Try to avoid any terms or abbreviations your recipient won’t understand, and have grace when your dad sends a winky face or your grandma insists on signing her name to every message. It’s OK to get serious Limiting text conversations to logistics and basic greetings is outdated. We’ve come to rely on texting in so many contexts that it’s natural we’ll end up talking about our emotions. Sometimes it’s even easier to say serious things over text because you have more time to think. However: Breaking up over text is still verboten While it may be convenient, it’s disrespectful to break up with a romantic partner over text. It is also incredibly hurtful and can make your former partner feel disrespected and humiliated. Plus, it robs you and the other person of closure, which can be helpful – and sometimes necessary – to move on. The general rule of thumb is that breaking up over text is only acceptable in very special cases, for example, if doing it in person is a logistical impossibility or if there’s a real threat of abuse. In all other cases, you should make every effort not to break up over text. Yes, ending a relationship is complicated and messy, but doing it kindly and honourably is a romantic rite of passage. Don’t take the coward’s way out by sending a break-up text. Read the article again carefully and answer the following questions. Compare your answers in pairs. 1 According to the article, which language features that are considered incorrect in formal writing are acceptable in text messages? Can you think of any other examples? 2 Have you noticed any differences between your texting language and the language of your parents’ and grandparents’ generation? Give some examples (in any language you like). 3 What are your thoughts on the recommendation to avoid breaking up with someone over text? 4 How do you see texting changing in the future? 5 Do you have a funny story about a texting misunderstanding that you can share with the class? 27 7 stickler: someone who insists that things are done in a certain way (Pedant/in) 8 wet blanket: a person whose lack of enthusiasm has a depressing effect on others (Spielverderber/in, Spaßbremse) Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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