Teens are destroying the English language

[Chavi]

I see a growing trend in which colloquial jargon is quickly replacing formal language in all forms of communication, to the extent that it impacts subjects such as VCE English.
I understand if you have to use lol, cbf and brb in internet chat, but replacing 'that' with dat, and 'there' with der is pure laziness.
What particularly irks me is the pervasiveness of this phenomenon. Examples include incorrect usage of homophones such as there, their, they're and two, to and two, and plainly making up words: (misunderestimate [kudos to Bush], and "irregardless"). Als'o most of my peers' (Yr 12) sprinkle their essay's with incorrect apostrophe's.

I understand if you're a 12 year old on facebook chat in a hurry - but seeing these mistakes creep up in VCE essays is disturbing.


Discuss.

[shinny]

I think it's somewhat two separate issues. We just weren't taught these rules to begin with. The Victorian system emphasises studying texts and so on rather than vocabulary and grammar; I don't think I was ever really taught these properly. While I can get lazy sometimes, I don't see it impacting on my ability to write formally when I want to. They're basically two separate languages for me. But yes, it pisses me off too.

[chrisjb]

WoT YoU ToRkIn 'BoUt? I aInT RekkkIn KnOwBoDyZ LaNGuIgE! GtFo fAg.

[stonecold]

http://www.theage.com.au/national/far-from-killing-language-text-speak-is-gr8-evolution-20090926-g773.html

http://www.theage.com.au/world/internet-words-form-the-language-of-2moro-20100102-lmic.html

In formal contexts it is not appropriate, but other than that, there is no problem with it.  You have to be descriptive.

Linguists seem to agree on this.

Moreover, I look at movements like this, which make me cringe.  People seriously need to get over the fact that language change is inevitble, and broadly speaking, on form of language is no better or worse than the other.  Different varieties can only be judged according to their suitability to the context, audience and purpose.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/academy-puts-hard-word-on-english-20100701-zqgo.html

[iNerd]

In essence you are correct, it is quite sad to denigrate formal English language to such a level that it even affects speech with people even frequently saying 'lol' rather than actually performing the action of laughing. Your point on pure laziness however is rather naive, as pretty much every human wants the lazy, easy way out. People see no incentive in typing 'that' rather then 'dat' which is faster albeit by one letter. VCE English however, due to the stakes partially eradicates this laziness as people try to attempt to get back into writing formal English, often failing due to bad habit. However as Shinny has pointed out, people do realise the differences in the two languages but simply cannot be bothered in changing their ways: it is just an apostrophe after all. In the end there is really nothing you can do as I (and several of my teachers) predict colloquial language such as 'brb' and 'w8' will become official English words allowed in essay use in approximately 20-30 years time.

[chrisjb]

some teachers take this a bit too seriously in my opinion, I got grilled by my literature teacher for using the word 'quasi' in one of my sentences because it was too coloquial... I didn't think it was too bad but apparently it is.

I think that people do make the connection that writing an essay is different to writing in a text message and I doubt that there are many people who actualy use abreviations or very informal coloquialisms in their writing.

Also, I agree that the language should be alowed to evolve, but that doesn't mean you have to be using new words in your english essays, people have to recognise that although the english language can as a whole evolve, they must also modify their use of it to the situation they are in.

[stonecold]

some teachers take this a bit too seriously in my opinion, I got grilled by my literature teacher for using the word 'quasi' in one of my sentences because it was too coloquial... I didn't think it was too bad but apparently it is.

I think that people do make the connection that writing an essay is different to writing in a text message and I doubt that there are many people who actualy use abreviations or very informal coloquialisms in their writing.

Also, I agree that the language should be alowed to evolve, but that doesn't mean you have to be using new words in your english essays, people have to recognise that although the english language can as a whole evolve, they must also modify their use of it to the situation they are in.

You seem to have the grasp of it pal.

Considered doing EngLang?  You just be a natural!

[brightsky]

In essence you are correct, it is quite sad to denigrate formal English language to such a level that it even affects speech with people even frequently saying 'lol' rather than actually performing the action of laughing. Your point on pure laziness however is rather naive, as pretty much every human wants the lazy, easy way out. People see no incentive in typing 'that' rather then 'dat' which is faster albeit by one letter. VCE English however, due to the stakes partially eradicates this laziness as people try to attempt to get back into writing formal English, often failing due to bad habit. However as Shinny has pointed out, people do realise the differences in the two languages but simply cannot be bothered in changing their ways: it is just an apostrophe after all. In the end there is really nothing you can do as I (and several of my teachers) predict colloquial language such as 'brb' and 'w8' will become official English words allowed in essay use in approximately 20-30 years time.

I completely agree. Whilst there seems to be a definitive line between colloquial language and 'formal' English as shinny said, Chavi's example of the misuse of 'theirs' and apostrophes is a solid counter-example. But I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. I'm talking entirely out of ignorance in regards to the history of the English language here but it is inevitable that language would change as the times change, and, as iNerd said, who's to say that words like 'lol' wouldn't be part of the Oxford Dictionary in the near future? The term 'formal English' is a bit subjective in itself. Just like the distinction between 'right' and 'wrong', the distinction between 'formal' and 'informal' language is getting more and more vague. Just retrace the list of 'new' words introduced into the Oxford dictionary...by 1000 year's time, all the old words would probably get superimposed by new words that were once considered informal. But as usual I'm wandering off a bit. xD

[chrisjb]

some teachers take this a bit too seriously in my opinion, I got grilled by my literature teacher for using the word 'quasi' in one of my sentences because it was too coloquial... I didn't think it was too bad but apparently it is.

I think that people do make the connection that writing an essay is different to writing in a text message and I doubt that there are many people who actualy use abreviations or very informal coloquialisms in their writing.

Also, I agree that the language should be alowed to evolve, but that doesn't mean you have to be using new words in your english essays, people have to recognise that although the english language can as a whole evolve, they must also modify their use of it to the situation they are in.

You seem to have the grasp of it pal.

Considered doing EngLang?  You just be a natural!

Not for me, I always saw englang as turning english into science... which is fine but not realy what I was looking for.

[Chavi]

People see no incentive in typing 'that' rather then 'dat' which is faster albeit by one letter.

No incentive? What are you talking about? Most kids learn to type from an earlier age. One single letter has no impact on the speed of writing.
Typing up 'that' comes instinctively to me - as it should to every student in VCE level.

[stonecold]

People see no incentive in typing 'that' rather then 'dat' which is faster albeit by one letter.

No incentive? What are you talking about? Most kids learn to type from an earlier age. One single letter has no impact on the speed of writing.
Typing up 'that' comes also instinctively to me - as it should to every student in VCE level.

Ever consider that people may choose to consciously spell words differently for group inclusion or to define who they are?  Don't assume they are all just lazy...

[Chavi]

I think it's somewhat two separate issues. We just weren't taught these rules to begin with. The Victorian system emphasises studying texts and so on rather than vocabulary and grammar; I don't think I was ever really taught these properly. While I can get lazy sometimes, I don't see it impacting on my ability to write formally when I want to. They're basically two separate languages for me. But yes, it pisses me off too.

Many of my teachers were schooled in the rules of grammar from an early age. Today such lessons are abandoned in order not to hamper the 'creative potential' of the child (absolute bullshit IMHO)
I don't attribute the blame of language decline solely to the education system. Text messaging, facebook and internet culture are all contributors to the decline of language.
Many claim that the English language is simply evolving. With the examples provided, I can safely say that language is devolving - to the extent that everyone will be conversing in monosyllabic grunts in 20 years time.

[Chavi]

People see no incentive in typing 'that' rather then 'dat' which is faster albeit by one letter.

No incentive? What are you talking about? Most kids learn to type from an earlier age. One single letter has no impact on the speed of writing.
Typing up 'that' comes also instinctively to me - as it should to every student in VCE level.

Ever consider that people may choose to consciously spell words differently for group inclusion or to define who they are?  Don't assume they are all just lazy...

Looking dumb as exercise in group belonging? I don't think that many blondes who fit the stereotype do so consciously or for want of notoriety. Likewise in this case.

[iNerd]

People see no incentive in typing 'that' rather then 'dat' which is faster albeit by one letter.

No incentive? What are you talking about? Most kids learn to type from an earlier age. One single letter has no impact on the speed of writing.
Typing up 'that' comes also instinctively to me - as it should to every student in VCE level.

You miss the point, what is the incentive for teenagers used to 'dat' to switch back to 'that' ? You said yourself that it annoys you that people are lazy and write 'dat' instead of 'that' and I told you it was naive as people are lazy, its an innate sort of trait to take the easy way out. As StoneCold also brought up, which I agree with, there could be a conscious effort to sound 'sxc' or 'cool', expressing one's identity. Although I told you in essence you are right, it's quite sad how low the language has come but in 20, 30 years time 'dat' could become an official word: who knows?

I'm kinda hoping it's XX.X0, saves me having to add the last number each time. I can just say XX.X, considering I'll probably have to say it or type it about 100 times on the 13th. Whatever saves me time or effort is always good .

...does one number really make a difference on the impact of typing? People are lazy Chavi, I think you should get used to it.

[Chavi]

I think I should add a few more reasons behind the phenomenon: Laziness, ignorance, acceptance or economy