In our post-industrial economy, many of us are constantly connected and communicating -- by text.  E-mail, instant messaging, text messaging, and social networking websites such as Facebook have been added to the old standbys of telephone and face-to-face conversation.  New words are slipping into our daily usage, and into the dictionaries, to keep up.  The new system is very efficient -- but what drawbacks might it have?  Will it destroy the beauty of the English language?  Will it render our children unable to communicate outside of "Netspeak"?  Is efficiency itself a problem?

On these questions there is a sharp divide between the popular media, many of whom fear the encroachment of communication technology; and the academics, the results of whose studies may surprise you.

Read on to learn more.  Meanwhile the author will be texting her friends (in
full words, thank you) about dinner.