Will Text Messaging Change Business Spelling?

If you send and receive text messages via your cell phone, iPhone, Blackberry or similar communication device,  you’ve probably realized that many people write in code. 

Image: sxc.hu

In other words, they don’t spell words completely and accurately.  (4 represents for; u for you, etc.)

I’ve wondered how this will affect spelling in the future.  Will our youngsters cease to learn correct spelling?  Will adults forget correct spelling? Will this become the language of business?

I wrote about this on one of my other blogs, Will Texting Affect Children’s Spelling, and received a thought provoking comment regarding texting and business, especially as it applies to international business.

John’s comment in part:

Proper spelling will not matter in the future due to the rise of “Chinglish”.  International business is very common via email, blackberry, texting, and instant messenger. It would be considered highly rude and inappropriate to correct a Chinese or European coworker for grammar or spelling issues when English is not their first language. The same goes for correcting a VP who uses acronyms when communicating via blackberry. Since many people today, who work for the same company never meet each other in person or talk on the phone, it is rather presumptuous to assume that they were born in or are located in America or the UK…

 But the technicalities do not matter. The goal of any communication is to convey a message that the re cipient can understand and take action on. In business we can live with poor spelling and grammar, provided it enables us to add value. You would be hard pressed to find any investors who would put the business on hold to send everyone to English class so their reports and memos would be perfect.

I found this an interesting insight into the situation.  What do you think?