Heavy use of computer keyboards is affecting one aspect of Chinese culture. Its wired youth is slowly forgetting how to write Chinese characters…
In China’s wired youth forget how to write, Judith Evans writes that some Chinese people no longer remember the strokes. They may still remember what the character looks like, but they don’t recall the correct way to write it.
I wonder if the same thing will happen to Filipino children as they begin spending more time on the keyboard.
Sure, they know how what the letter “O” looks like, but do they know how to write it? How about you, how do you write the letter “O”? Do you write it in a clockwise or counter-clockwise fashion?
Do it matter how you write letters? Well, it will affect the way your script handwriting will look.
Some may still continue to ask: “Does it matter?”
It does. Especially if you care to preserve the pre-computer portion of your history and culture. True, people rarely send each other handwritten notes. And yes, you can easily just send a Hallmark greeting card, an e-card, or even a quick email.
But if you have even a small amount of pride or creativity, you will want to preserve the skills that your hands possessed prior to the age of the ubiquitous keyboard or cell phone keypad.
I wonder… if people get so used to Twitter, Facebook, or SMS texting, will some people eventually forget how to speak?
Sure, you know how the word looks. You can even type it out.
But can you pronounce it?
I hope the day won’t come when online news headlines scream: “[Name of Country] Wired Youth Forget How To Speak”
