texterity

Origin:
text + dexterity = texterity

Definition:
n.
1. a skill with typing and sending text messages quickly and accurately.
2. a skill or adroitness with words in general. Eloquence.

Exemplum:
As SMS messages became Marshall's primary means of communication, he developed a texterity that was impressively efficient, prolific and utterly inapplicable to useful pursuits.

Commentary:
Today's term offers two viscerally pleasing definitions. The first is smart, but not lofty, and highly specific, making it ideal for the practical perfunctorism of the everyday. Whereas our second definition offers an exponentially delicious realm of possibility.

The hinge between these definitions is the concept of dexterity. In our first definition it's physical, manual dexterity. In our second is metaphorical and intellectual. And it's that duality which forges the irresistible juxtapositional irony of these two definitions-- the first almost certainly precludes the second.

That is to say, the kickapoo-joy-juice-guzzling youngsters capable of texting at break-knuckle speed are among the least likely candidates to be legitimately verbally adept. Perhaps it's their narrow understanding of or concern for vocabulary that allows them to select quickly from the same bank of 200 vapid, abbreviated words text after text. And if you think that's a harbinger of the complete devolution of intellectualism, try actually speaking to one of them! You'd be less underwhelmed by a mute quadriplegic using a sock puppet.

But regardless of reason, texterity's two meanings are without doubt polarly diverse and yet equally intuitive and relevant. Neological phenomena that so tickle the mind and effervesce the soul are chanced upon seldom, my friends. Savor them until your last breath.

Credit:
texterity.com (term), Nate Winter (the rest)