Is it?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11420737

IMO I think it is time to revert to
speaking properly, to the best of your
education.
Looking at some exam papers from recent years I would have failed pupils for using Text type abbreviations.

IMO Texting is ruining our language and should only be used as Emma suggests.

What are your views?

Re: Is it?

When I was a child woe betide us if we didn't speak what was considered, 'The Queen's English', our mother was very keen we spoke 'properly'. Naturally being kids we would sometimes put on the local accent just to wind her up! Actually being articulate has stood us all in very good stead indeed over the years. We brought up our children to speak clearly and articulately, and our grandchildren are being taught to do the same.

Whether or not it should be so, the ability to speak with authority does get you further in life. I remember my husband once going into a hardware shop in his scruffs, the shop assistants carried on chatting, ignoring him, until he addressed them, when they immediately jumped to attention. His voice always had a commanding presence before his illness, very useful for a head teacher!

Re: Is it?

When I was a wee girl growing up in Govan, my Mum would make me speak properly and would get into trouble if I didn't! However, once outside - well, out of sight, out of mind I always watched though how I spoke when I was in company and at school - we would all get into trouble there if we spoke with the Glasgow slang Ach ah luv ma Glesca slang

Good post, AB, many thanks. It brought back happy memories for me!

Re: Is it?

When children first come to our drama groups, they tend to mumble and slur and use gangsta inflections. Within half an hour they speak English.
People mimic what they hear. It`s a natural, and unconscious behaviour.
One of the funniest thnig about living in France was listening to the English speaking English with a French accent when speaking to French people.
So - people will speak as they are spoken to, as a rule.

Re: Is it?

I think our language is not static, it is continually changing and adpating as generations come and go. New words and ways of expressing ourselves eventually become an accepted part of our language and will eventually be included in the english dictionaries. For example, we speak very differently from Elizabethan days and our language includes words they would never have heard. Generally, I don't think that this is a bad thing - the important thing is to be able to communicate clearly and in a way that is understandable to those you are speaking or writing to.
Just a thought, but what about the many regional dialects to be found throughout the British Isles. When I moved up from London, I was amazed that people were still saying "thee" and " thou" and conversely folks found the way I spoke quite strange. I used many words they were not familiar with.
But all in all I don't the differences between generations and regions is a bad thing - it just adds to the rich tapestry of our language.
A lot of the way young people express themselves today is a by-product of the computer generation. My texting leaves a lot to be desired and, unlike young folks I am verfy slow. I just hope I am able to keep up with the language of the young.

Re: Is it?

Aerolor, which would you rather read or listen to, the #'s/letters on the left or the meaning on the right?
? I have a question
? I don't understand what you mean
?4U I have a question for you
;S Gentle warning, like "Hmm? what did you say?"
^^ Meaning "read line" or "message above"
<3 Meaning "sideways heart" (love, friendship)
Meaning "broken heart"
<33 Meaning "heart or love" (more 3s is a bigger heart)
@TEOTD At the end of the day
.02 My (or your) two cents worth
121 One-to-one (private chat initiation)
1337 Leet, meaning 'elite'
143 I love you
14AA41 One for all, and all for one
19 Zero hand (online gaming)
10X Thanks
1CE Once
1DR I wonder

Re: Is it?

Those are all foreign to me .....except the ? one!

Re: Is it?

And here is a Glasgow poem by Andrew McNaughton Wonder how many here understand it

Oh where is the Glasgow where I used to stay?
With the white wally closes done up wi' pipe clay.
Where you knew everybody, ground floor tae the third,
And to keep your door shut was considered absurd.

Where are the weans that played in the street?
Wi' a jorrie, a peerie, a gird wi' a cleet.
Can they still cadge a hudgie or dreep aff a dyke?
Play hunch cuddy hunch, kick the can and the like?

And where's the wee shop where I used to buy
A quarter o' totties, a tuppeny pie?
A bag of' broke biscuits, a wee sodie scone.
An' the wummin aye asked, "how's yir maw gettin on?"

Where is the Tallies that I knew so well?
That wee corner shoap where they used to sell
Hot peas, a macallum, ice cream in a poke?
You knew they were Tallies the minute they spoke.

And where is the cludgie that we cosy cell?
The string fae the cistern..I remember it well
Where I sat wi' a caunie and studied the rags.
A win fur the auld firm, a loss fur the Jags.

Where is the tramcar that once did a ton
Doon Great Western Road on the old Yoker run?
The conductress aye knew how tae deal wi' the nyaff.
"If yir gaun then comeoan....if yir no...well gitaff"

I think o' the days o' my tenement hame
We've got fancy hooses, but they're jist no the same.
I'll swap your gizunders, flyovers and jams
Fur a tuppeny ride on the old Partick trains.

Gone is the Glesga that I used tae know
Big Wullie, wee Shooie, the steamie, the Co
The shilpit, wee bachle, the glaikit big dreep
The ba's up the slates, and yir gas oan a peep.

These days wurnae rosy and money was tight
The wages hauf finished by Setterday night.
But still we came through it and weathered the ruts.
The reason is simple, oor Parents had guts.

________

I just love that - reminds me so much of my Glesga days, although ah camefae Govan

Re: Is it?

Awww Brandykins , that was lovely and I understood all of it ( lol )............
In fact I was fair peerie heeded efter reading it aw , but i`m almost sure a couple of mistakes have been made ( not your fault hun )

I think it should read Trams and Those , what say you ?


I agree with Aerolor , that language is , and always has been , ever evolving

Re: Is it?

Txt tlk is for mobile phones!