Ejercicio B1 - Open questions · Inglés PAU Valencia Extraordinaria 2023

TEXT B

FINE, I ADMIT IT – I AM A “DRY TEXTER”

I’ve recently become aware of the phenomenon of dry texting: the short, single-word responses (Yes, No, OK, Lol) to messages that are viewed as inadequate, hostile or hurtful.

Our family chat is arid. Most messages are “k” or “OK.” Supposedly interesting messages sent by those of us who are keen to maintain a feeling of connection go uncommented on; sometimes even unopened. I can be a dry texter myself: short responses to friends who send three-paragraph messages. It’s partly a lack of mental capacity for more writing outside the day job. If I could bring myself to get into emojis – I can’t – I would absolutely be the “single thumbs-up” kind of texter.

The other reason I dry text is I can’t write anything without horribly getting my typing wrong and being cruelly provoked by autocorrect. When I try to fix it, I end up hitting the M instead of delete, so most of my messages read: “We we’re mmmmmmmm.”

I quite like dry texting anyway: there’s an economical poetry to it. My last four messages from my stepfather are “Yes,” “OK,” “Good” and “OK.” The conversation thread between me and my husband is mainly “Dog?” “Where are you?” “Kfé?” (coffee) and “Yep.” He used a single emoji back in January and I’m still getting over it. It makes the more expansive messages extra special, too, such as when my husband spontaneously says he’s missing me. Those in textual relationships with more extensive typing style will never know that thrill.

Adapted from an article by Emma Beddington, The Guardian, 23-2-2023

B1. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a.

What is “dry texting”?

b.

Why does the author use that kind of text?