Thread: Textspeak, poor grammar and a general grump.

Originally Posted by gratewhitehuntr

I don't see what the BFD is.

I have no idea what BFD means.
We have a breakdown in communication.
Q.E.D.

Originally Posted by Rajagra

Evolving is not the same as incorporating the worst excesses of people who just want to sound trendy and deliberately exclude others from understanding what is said.

English could be improved in many ways. But adding to its faults is not progress.

And who is this grand arbiter of the changing English language? Who decides what's bad or good enough to allow through to the next generation's usage? If only it worked like that, you might stand a chance of getting your fixed reference. But the truth is somewhat more chaotic I suspect.

English has changed as much through its 'faults' (colloquialisms, turns of phrases, pidgin, foreign languages with better words for a given concept, slang, etc.) as it has through its, er, good parts.

I'm not saying those trendy types you pick out don't exist, but no-one has said they alone shape the future of our language. Should a certain word or phrase find its way into common usage however, then in time it may well become valid in and of itself.

Case in point: C o c k ney. What was a long time ago a trendy and deliberately exclusive form of speaking -- exactly what you hate. But it is responsible for many widely known turns of phrases today.

E.g. to blow a raspberry may come from "raspberry tart" to rhyme with fart (Wikipedia, sloppy I know, but illustrates the point quickly.)

(Damn that swear filter!)

Originally Posted by Rajagra

Yes, but you understand my amusement at Americans being referred to as "native" speakers of English?

We don't speak English -- we speak American!

My petpeeve is when you knock on the door and the occupant says who's there and you say it's me. It should be it is I.

Actually language is continually evolving and the older generation is always ragging about the younger. If you have any doubts about that pick up a copy of Canterbury Tales in old english and try reading it.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

pick up a copy of Canterbury Tales in old english and try reading it.

That would be unusual to find a ME text translated into OE

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

That would unusual to find a ME text translated into OE

Yes, but try reading it after drinking a 40 of Old English

(I have done this, and it actually makes a bit more sense. They don't call alcohol "liquid Berlitz" fer' nuthin', ya' know)

I try my best not to get worked up over grammar and spelling errors simply because they are so widespread.

The one I was surprised to find most commonly is "loose" instead of "lose." I can understand people mixing up there, their, they're...but if video games are actually shaping the minds of this generation then every child should have seen YOU LOSE enough to grasp it.

I see this all the time. I'm an engineer, and for whatever reason engineers don't seem to place any value on proper communication. I use the whole texty-speaking thing in text messages, IM, and in very informal e-mails (maybe to brother or friends).

And please explain the who/whom. That's one I've always wanted to understand but never quite got.

Originally Posted by bbshriver

And please explain the who/whom. That's one I've always wanted to understand but never quite got.

99% of the time, this rule works:
if you would say "him" use "whom" if you would say "he" use "who"

for instance:
WHO left the door open? HE left the door open.
to WHOM should I address the letter? address it to HIM.

etc.

I haven't read the whole thread, and I know I'm an offender.

What I would say is; language is a dynamic thing. You write an essay with perfect modern grammar and punctuation, go and show Shakespeare, see how well written he thinks it is. That addresses my view on text speak.

On poor spelling and grammar, I think it's a situation where you get out what you put in. If you can write properly and choose not to on an informal internet forum, because you can't really be arsed and it's not really required of you, so be it. If you just can't write properly, and that is a problem for you in day to day formal life, then you should try and adress that.

Incidently, my writing and my use of language has improved immeasurably since I started using forums, nearly 4 years ago. It has been useful for me.