English

Talking vs. Texting – A Compare and Contrast Essay

Introduction

Currently, cell phones are a necessity. They are no longer categorized under the commodities of ostentation as they were some decades ago in most parts of the world (Crystal, 2008). In fact, one cannot operate without a cell phone in the contemporary work or social environments. Even so, the way people use cell phones is different. Foremost, some prefer texting to calling. On the contrary, most people, and particularly the older generations prefer talking to texting. While both options have both merits and demerits, it is a matter of common understanding that one is more powerful and preferable to the other. This paper is a compare and contrast essay aimed at highlighting the differences and similarities between calling and texting, with a strong conclusion that calling is more constructive than texting.

Differences

Foremost, unlike texting, talking is real time. The sender of the message receives immediate feedback from the recipient of the same (Crystal, 2008). On the contrary, texting is less immediate. For some reasons, such as network connection issues, proximity to the cell phone and so on, the recipient of the text message may take some time before they respond. This makes talking a better option, especially in cases of emergency.

Secondly, talking is deeper and more interactive while texting is somewhat shallow and less interactive. Fundamentally, when friends are talking on the cell phone, there is a sense of intimacy because by the fact that such things as the tone of voice are involved makes the conversation emotion-laden and a bit livelier. On the contrary, when a person texts another, it is difficult for the recipient to read the mood of the sender. He or she cannot tell whether or not the sender is jovial, sad, or emotionless and so on.

Thirdly, texting, unlike talking is marred by technology-coded complications such as autocorrect (Crystal, 2008). Today, so many people misread or misinterpret the message in a text because of autocorrecting. Autocorrect is a feature that automatically corrects a word to the nearest English spelling. This feature adversely affects text communication, especially if the texts are written in a language that is not the one accepted by the phone's default settings.

Unlike texting, talking allows one to multitask. Fundamentally, one cannot do anything while texting because it requires concentration and keen attention on the letters being typed (Hamill & Lasen, 2005). On the contrary, with such modern devices as the wireless earphones, one can comfortably speak on the phone without using either of their hands. As such, they can do something else as they talk on the cell phone. Again, this makes talking a better option.

Perhaps one of a fascinating differences between texting and talking is that texting is somewhat limited to the young generations. Talking, on the other hand, is ageless – it is popular among the elderly as it is among the young generations. Elderly people are not tech-savvy, and may not prefer texting to talking.

Similarities

Foremost, both texting and talking are dependent on the same technological infrastructure – the presence of cell phones, a reliable mobile service provider, as well as electric power. Without such essential infrastructural requirements, neither talking nor texting could work. Secondly, they both require some basic understanding of simple technology such as using a simple cell phone.

Additionally, both calling and texting need feedback. Just like any other channel of communication, the aim of using a cell phone is to get feedback. While the response time may differ between the two options, it is a matter of common knowledge that at the end of the process, a text message needs a reply just like a phone call needs someone to respond from the other side.

In most cases, both calling and texting are billed. While the rates may differ depending on such factors as geographical regions, mobile network service providers and so on, both talking and texting are billed (Hamill & Lasen, 2005). In most cases, talking is costlier than texting. While it is more preferable, texting is cheaper, and almost free, particularly considering the advent of such chatting apps like WhatsApp.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is clear that there are quite some differences between talking and texting. As noted from the preceding discussion, talking is real time, costlier, more interactive and deep, ageless, capable of multitasking and reliable. On the other hand, texting is age-limited, shallow, incapable of multitasking and capable of being marred by such features as autocorrect. Among the key similarities are such points as the use of the same technological infrastructure, the inevitability of billing and the essence of feedback. Overall, the merits of talking outweigh the demerits of texting. Therefore, talking is more preferable.

References

Crystal, D. (2008). Txtng: The Gr8 Db8. Oxford: OUP Oxford.

Hamill, L., & Lasen, A. (2005). Mobile world: Past, present and future. London: Springer.