Mobile phones: a benefit or social nuisance? Few people under 30 will be able to imagine a time before the existence of mobile phones. Neither will they be (31) _______ of the harmful effect that many people predicted text language would have on young people’s language skills. Interestingly, linguists nowadays believe that expressing oneself clearly in texts is evidence of a good background in grammar and sentence structure. Mobile phones are credited with encouraging people to ...

Mobile phones: a benefit or social nuisance?

Few people under 30 will be able to imagine a time before the existence of mobile phones. Neither will they be (31) _______ of the harmful effect that many people predicted text language would have on young people’s language skills.

Interestingly, linguists nowadays believe that expressing oneself clearly in texts is evidence of a good background in grammar and sentence structure. Mobile phones are credited with encouraging people to communicate more. They can also provide reassurance to people (32) _______ are alone in dangerous situations. Some people use mobile phones as a kind of barrier to unwelcome social contact; texting can signal your unavailability to (33) _______ people in the same way that wearing sunglasses and headphones does.

Some issues with mobile phones are still controversial. Talking loudly on the phone while on public transport is thought to be rude and (34) _______ by many people in the UK. (35) _______, a significant minority of people still do it, despite the sighing and other obvious signs of disapproval from their fellow passengers.

Neither will they be (31) _______ of the harmful effect that many people predicted text language would have on young people’s language skills.