Teens are destroying the English language

[iNerd]

iNerd man, you've gotta think more about the context that lol gets used in as well.

There is no single person alive today that has completely removed laughing from their personality, and replaced it with lol. lol is used to like someone said earlier, sort of, acknowledge that someone is being light-hearted or humorous, without actually laughing at the joke. This usually happens when someone says something, intending for it to be funny, but it isn't really. Same reason I always get a little frustrated when you text something funny and get a lol back, you understand what you said wasn't funny, much rather a hahahahahhahaahhahahahahahahaha.

No this is when you do what Mao said and you say "That's hilarious" or "That's funny" or "Good one" or whatever. Why lol? Why bring in an internet abbreviation to every-day-life? I mean when people say 'lol' the first thing that pops into my mind is 'laugh out loud' and then the consequential thought of 'why didn't you just laugh?'. I don't get your text argument, that's a text...not a real life situation. I totally understand the culture shift, language revolution etc etc and I accept the fact that lol has infested the population - that doesn't mean I like it or agree with it; I for one will stick to laughing.

[shinny]

I also think many of these 'memes' have adverse effects on schoolkids who will struggle to attain the standard of grammar and spelling required for VCE exams.

Well yeh, that's hard to prove for and against really. I personally admit to occasionally using words like 'lol' (as most people have said, in contexts where I don't actually find it funny otherwise I would just laugh), ceebs and so on, but it doesn't impact on my use of language elsewhere. Whether it affects others...I'm not too sure. I think the evolving language is just a confounding factor for kids who actually don't know grammar and spelling. Although most people don't spell and use grammar correctly online, many can when they wish. For those that can't, I think the education system has failed them. But yes, difficult to isolate either factor and prove it really.

[Ghost!]

No this is when you do what Mao said and you say "That's hilarious" or "That's funny" or "Good one" or whatever. Why lol? Why bring in an internet abbreviation to every-day-life? I mean when people say 'lol' the first thing that pops into my mind is 'laugh out loud' and then the consequential thought of 'why didn't you just laugh?'. I don't get your text argument, that's a text...not a real life situation. I totally understand the culture shift, language revolution etc etc and I accept the fact that lol has infested the population - that doesn't mean I like it or agree with it; I for one will stick to laughing.

...you still don't get it, I mustn't be explaining it right. My text example wasn't an argument, it was just an anecdote. I'm not pro lol, I think it's stupid. But there's more to the semantics and the scenario of the word and it's use, then just laughing. It isn't used in the place of laughing. Maybe once it was, but it isn't now.

[iNerd]

No this is when you do what Mao said and you say "That's hilarious" or "That's funny" or "Good one" or whatever. Why lol? Why bring in an internet abbreviation to every-day-life? I mean when people say 'lol' the first thing that pops into my mind is 'laugh out loud' and then the consequential thought of 'why didn't you just laugh?'. I don't get your text argument, that's a text...not a real life situation. I totally understand the culture shift, language revolution etc etc and I accept the fact that lol has infested the population - that doesn't mean I like it or agree with it; I for one will stick to laughing.

...you still don't get it, I mustn't be explaining it right. My text example wasn't an argument, it was just an anecdote. I'm not pro lol, I think it's stupid. But there's more to the semantics and the scenario of the word and it's use, then just laughing. It isn't used in the place of laughing. Maybe once it was, but it isn't now.

Fair enough. Although it still is quite sad that the expression has transferred from internet [a technological invention] to life [reality] almost dumbing down humans and as Chavi said, reducing the complexity of our expression by use of internet abbreviations.

[Ghost!]

Fair enough. Although it still is quite sad that the expression has transferred from internet [a technological invention] to life [reality] almost dumbing down humans and as Chavi said, reducing the complexity of our expression by use of internet abbreviations.

Perfectly said, couldn't agree more.

[stonecold]

I also think many of these 'memes' have adverse effects on schoolkids who will struggle to attain the standard of grammar and spelling required for VCE exams.

Well yeh, that's hard to prove for and against really. I personally admit to occasionally using words like 'lol' (as most people have said, in contexts where I don't actually find it funny otherwise I would just laugh), ceebs and so on, but it doesn't impact on my use of language elsewhere. Whether it affects others...I'm not too sure. I think the evolving language is just a confounding factor for kids who actually don't know grammar and spelling. Although most people don't spell and use grammar correctly online, many can when they wish. For those that can't, I think the education system has failed them. But yes, difficult to isolate either factor and prove it really.

Most research shows that children and teenagers generally have the capacity to switch between the teenspeak register and more formal varieties when required.

I think this thread is nothing more than a prescriptivist rant.

What is it to you the language people choose to communicate with in their own groups?

[Chavi]

Most research shows that children and teenagers generally have the capacity to switch between the teenspeak register and more formal varieties when required.

[citation needed]

[shinny]

Most research shows that children and teenagers generally have the capacity to switch between the teenspeak register and more formal varieties when required.

[citation needed]

I recall seeing evidence of that too in The Age but didn't mention it for this reason.

[QuantumJG]

I constantly get into arguments about this; usually because I can barely understand what has been sent to me and usually have to translate it.

Also with education; our two major areas that are holding us back are basic grammar and basic arithmetic. I'm personally only just starting to learn the right conventions in grammar. As for basic arithmetic; the students I tutor can understand most of the year 10/11 content, but have no idea how to add fractions.

Lastly this new vocabulary people use make them sound like aspiring rappers.

[stonecold]

Most research shows that children and teenagers generally have the capacity to switch between the teenspeak register and more formal varieties when required.

[citation needed]

Read the article I attached on the first page.  The one by Dr Carolyn Lee.

[Spreadbury]

What is it to you the language people choose to communicate with in their own groups?

It has spread far beyond usage in their own groups.

I do however hate the grammar-nazis on websites that try and berate you for lacking a full stop or capital letter, or mispelling a simple word. Same with the people on youtube who run out of arguments and say "well learn to spell"

[stonecold]

Everyone just read the article entitled "Language - from sludge to SMS" before making claims which I am yet to see any support for.

And the tool British journalist John Humphrey who claimed in his his book that users of textspeak are 'pillaging our punctuation, savaging our sentences, raping our vocabulary" is not evidence, it is a moronic and unsolicited rant.

[Chavi]

Most research shows that children and teenagers generally have the capacity to switch between the teenspeak register and more formal varieties when required.

[citation needed]

Read the article I attached on the first page.  The one by Dr Carolyn Lee.

A very good article I must add. Whilst I agree with the premise that managerial, bombastic language often masks over meaning - an entirely separate and equally worrying problem -many of her observations pertain to her students - who are presumably, middle-class, well educated and proficient enough for Uni. Nowhere does she mention research to back up her observations.
I've seen examples where VCE students use 'dat' and 'der' in their essays (ie in a formal setting). Not everyone makes it to uni. Whilst I admit that I too on occasions use abbreviations on chat (ppl, m8 etc), the problem begins when internet jargon makes its way into formal prose or conversations.

[stonecold]

Most research shows that children and teenagers generally have the capacity to switch between the teenspeak register and more formal varieties when required.

[citation needed]

Read the article I attached on the first page.  The one by Dr Carolyn Lee.

A very good article I must add. Whilst I agree with the premise that managerial, bombastic language often masks over meaning - an entirely separate and equally worrying problem -many of her observations pertain to her students - who are presumably, middle-class, well educated and proficient enough for Uni. Nowhere does she mention research to back up her observations.
I've seen examples where VCE students use 'dat' and 'der' in their essays (ie in a formal setting). Not everyone makes it to uni. Whilst I admit that I too on occasions use abbreviations on chat (ppl, m8 etc), the problem begins when internet jargon makes its way into formal prose or conversations.

Of course some students will do it.  But IMO those with poor literacy and numeracy skills probably know about it and don't really care from my perspective.  I know I don't have great spelling and grammar but I am constantly trying to improve it.  Those who don't recognise that non standard spellings in formal writing is not acceptable definitely need to address it.  But as I said, I doubt they care.  To some people (stupid I know) an uneducated persona is seen as a desirable attribute.   I 100% agree that textspeak is not for formal prose, but I think on laid back forums such as this, social networking sites, social interactions etc., it is perfectly valid.

[Chavi]

I 100% agree that textspeak is not for formal prose, but I think on laid back forums such as this, social networking sites, social interactions etc., it is perfectly valid.

I agree with this from my first post. The line between formal and colloquial is becoming blurred though to the extent that it may 'defile' English. After all, we are the inheritors of this language. We are the ones who pass it on to the next generation. We decide whether they will hold educated, reasoned discussions - or descend into an incoherent orgy of lols, thx and cu l8r m8's