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14 May 06
Originally posted by amannionI guess so.
This is reminiscent of the old farts who bemoan the pronunciation of words on television and radio.
The reality is, our language - spoken and written - like Shakespeare's is the result of a long history of evolution. And it continues its evolution today.
Does this represent a degradation of our thinking processes?
No, I don't think so.
Those people who ...[text shortened]... workout on their mobile phones aren;t making us any dumber. They were already the stupid ones.
But I have no problem with pronounciation or evolution.
I was just wondering what others thought of the new generation's lingo.
14 May 06
Originally posted by amannionAre you are the sort of fart who speaks 'Strine' but thinks he is speaking English?
This is reminiscent of the old farts who bemoan the pronunciation of words on television and radio.
The reality is, our language - spoken and written - like Shakespeare's is the result of a long history of evolution. And it continues its evolution today.
Does this represent a degradation of our thinking processes?
No, I don't think so.
Those people who ...[text shortened]... workout on their mobile phones aren;t making us any dumber. They were already the stupid ones.
14 May 06
Originally posted by Conrau KStandard 'of' English, not 'standard to'.
Has anyone here noticed that the standard to language is declining? Since the advent of the SMS boom, everyone seems to have abandoned conventional grammer and abolished spelling. Like the simple question, "are you coming to dinner" translates to "R U cuming 2 a smash*?" I was wondering if literacy standards were also diminishing in other countries too. In ...[text shortened]... mashed" is to be blind drunk. Maybe its the binge drinking thats causing it...
It's 'grammar', not 'grammer'.
No need to use 'also' and 'too' in the same sentence.
'Politicians'.
Blank verse is two words, not one.
Yes, now you mention it the standard of English today is very poor; even pedants aren't what they used to be...
14 May 06
Originally posted by Conrau KThe reason why "knight" is spelt that way is that way back, it was pronounced with a "k". It has the same origin as the German word "Knecht". In German, you can still hear both the "k" and the "ch". The point is that it's nothing new that the English language (or any language) is changing and being simplified.
And how do you spell "night" and how do say "night"?
There's a reason as to why "knight" is spelt that way. It prevents us from confusing homophones.
I think what may be new is that it's not the spoken language which changes first, and only if the changes become quite common, they are taken over into written language, but it now happens the other way round, if the changes make their way to spoken language at all. I see two reasons for this. One is that typing is so tedious on cell phones (er, at least I think it is, I don't use one myself), and the length of a message is very limited. The other one is that written language is now often used more like spoken language. If you write a letter, you can take your time. If you chat on the internet, the person you chat with is waiting for your reply, so speed becomes important. Even in internet forums, the pace is a lot faster than it used to be in written communication. That must necessarily influence the writing style.
While this may be perfectly natural and also unavoidable, I do think we should fight against the degeneration of language. It's great that we can use written language in a new way, but we should not forget how to write a letter or an essay.
14 May 06
Originally posted by NordlysAgreed, sort of. Language is about communication, so it's important we have a cross-group standard. However, different groups will inevitably form their own words/usages and occasionally parts of these enter the mainstream. That's inevitable and not a bad thing. (i.e. Language evolves, dude. Deal.)
The reason why "knight" is spelt that way is that way back, it was pronounced with a "k". It has the same origin as the German word "Knecht". In German, you can still hear both the "k" and the "ch". The point is that it's nothing new that the English language (or any language) is changing and being simplified.
I think what may be new is that it's not the ...[text shortened]... language in a new way, but we should not forget how to write a letter or an essay.
14 May 06
Originally posted by Conrau KFor as long as people have been able to read, they have been reading rubbish. This is no new phenomenon. In the 19th century trash literature abounded in the form of the dime novels and the so-called "penny dreadfuls." I don't see the public's current reading habits as being any different.
Limited? I just read a report given by a junior researcher in a prominent real estate company. There was minimal punctuation. Slang word use. No capital letters.
It irrefutable that the language has changed most over the past few decades then ever in the same amount of time. As for your opinion that fine literature was not read as often in the past eith ...[text shortened]... nturies. Its not like "m predicting that the English language will be abolished in ten years.
As for bad punctuation and poor spelling, you can see these type of things going as far back as Babylonian cuneiform tablets. The only thing that has changed is the medium on which they're recorded.
I do not see a downward trend in the public's literary habits. I think they're pretty much the same as they have been for years. What's on display here is your selective memory as to how good things supposedly used to be. I maintain that this perception of your's is inaccurate.
14 May 06
Originally posted by rwingettCrikey. How old is he?
As for bad punctuation and poor spelling, you can see these type of things going as far back as Babylonian cuneiform tablets... What's on display here is your selective memory as to how good things supposedly used to be.
I maintain that this perception of your's is inaccurate.
(I assume "your's" is deliberate.)
15 May 06
Originally posted by ivangrice😀 Ouch!
Standard 'of' English, not 'standard to'.
It's 'grammar', not 'grammer'.
No need to use 'also' and 'too' in the same sentence.
'Politicians'.
Blank verse is two words, not one.
Yes, now you mention it the standard of English today is very poor; even pedants aren't what they used to be...
I hate textspeak with a passion but it's an undeniably convenient way of sending messages. I think it's also undeniable that it's contributing to the lack of spelling ability and 'correct grammatical stuctures' in the writings of teenagers today.
Mind you, the likes of our friend Bowmann will always be around to show us the errors of our ways! 😉
15 May 06
Originally posted by Conrau KYou know, there actually is a novel out in the style of 3 girls talking online with one another; by all accounts, it's as bad as it sounds.
the day someone writes a book called "like yuh no r u 4 real?" is the day I will buy a revolver and go on a shooting spree.
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15 May 06
1 edit
Originally posted by ivangriceI have arthritis.
Standard 'of' English, not 'standard to'.
It's 'grammar', not 'grammer'.
No need to use 'also' and 'too' in the same sentence.
'Politicians'.
Blank verse is two words, not one.
Yes, now you mention it the standard of English today is very poor; even pedants aren't what they used to be...
EDIT: I knew someone would pick on my post. I know how to spell, I know proper grammer too (spelling with an 'e' or an 'a' is correct). But I am commenting thatt many people dont. I dont want to poor over every post I make, refining each error. This of course means that many of my posts make absolutely no sense and for that I apologise. But that's a different subject.
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15 May 06
Originally posted by NordlysWhat I mean, is that there is a reason why "knight" should remain in its current spelling. Not the reason for why it is the way it is already. But the reason for its retention. We were usinhg the word :reason" in different ways.
The reason why "knight" is spelt that way is that way back, it was pronounced with a "k". It has the same origin as the German word "Knecht". In German, you can still hear both the "k" and the "ch". The point is that it's nothing new that the English language (or any language) is changing and being simplified.
Other then that, I agree with you.