Facebook as a Platform for Using English Language Skills among the Indian Youth

Authors

  • Sharda Acharya National Institute of Technology
  • Seemita Mohanty National Institute of Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/nelta.v18i1-2.10326

Keywords:

Social networking sites, Facebook, Casual English, Youth, Language learning

Abstract

Today Facebook undoubtedly is one of the preferred Social Networking Site (SNS) platforms used by millions of people worldwide. Facebook users often use its unique creative applications and in the process also make use of smart abbreviations and ingenious expressions for everyday interactions. It is quite apparent that in such type of electronic communication and user-oriented media it is imperative to understand casual written English, which often does not conform to the rules of spelling, grammar and punctuation. It is generally being observed that repeated Facebook usage has the potential of providing the user new expressions of language through its various available features. Within the framework of such observations, this paper discusses the impact of Facebook on English language use of the youth in India. The study employed a survey design among young professionals, home-makers and graduate students, to fulfil the objectives. The results revealed a few surprising particulars. The key findings show that: i. as perceived by the youngsters themselves, by ‘facebooking’ there is mark deterioration in their English writing skills, ii. not many changes are seen in their day-to-day English language use despite their remaining abreast of the latest colloquial and casual English, and iii. Facebook is used by young people mainly for recreation purpose and any improvement that is seen in their English language skills is purely incidental.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nelta.v18i1-2.10326  

Journal of NELTA, Vol 18 No. 1-2, December 2013; 1-17

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Author Biographies

Sharda Acharya, National Institute of Technology

Ms. Sharda Acharya is a Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India and an Indian Council of Social Science and Research Fellow. Her area of research revolves around Popular Culture and Language Studies.

Seemita Mohanty, National Institute of Technology

Dr Seemita Mohanty is an Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India, and has fourteen years of teaching and research experience. Her research interests include Indian English Literature, ELT and CALL. She has presented papers at various National and International Conferences and has several research publications to her name.

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Published

2014-05-02

How to Cite

Acharya, S., & Mohanty, S. (2014). Facebook as a Platform for Using English Language Skills among the Indian Youth. Journal of NELTA, 18(1-2), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3126/nelta.v18i1-2.10326

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 1-2 (2013)

Section

Articles

License

© Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association (NELTA)

Authors are required to transfer their copyright to the Nepal English Language Teachers' Association (NELTA)

The Journal of NELTA is copyright by Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association (NELTA). Apart from citing/referencing in academic works, no part of any materials may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from its copyright owner – NELTA. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights may be addressed to NELTA or the editorial board at neltaeditorialboard@gmail.com.