Kids spelling words like they text - Is it SO bad?

[Ashley_Price]

I was sitting in the barbers the other day, listening to the barber talking about someone who had been in his shop with their grandchild and apparently was seriously explaining that "you" wasn't just spelt "u" etc. Apparently, because the child uses mobile phones a lot, even in normal writing they used "text spelling".

The barber and his customer were both agreed how appalling this was; and so did I... at first. But then I got to thinking, is it so bad? Isn't our language and spelling of words always evolving anyway?

So I did a bit of research and came across the following examples of changes to spellings from the 16th century:

[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]'Cote' changed to 'coote', then [FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif] 'coat'[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]'a broode' [FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]to[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif] 'abroad',
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]'roose' [/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]to[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif] 'rose'[/FONT][/FONT]
' stode' to[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif] 'stood'[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]'[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]to[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]umbe' [/FONT]to 'to[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]mb',
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]'dore' [/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]to[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif] 'doore', [/FONT]then 'door',
[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]'[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]to[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]un', 'doun' [/FONT]and 'croun' to[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif] '[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]to[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]wn, down, crown' [/FONT][/FONT]
'thow' to[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif] 'thou',
[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]'over' changed [/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]to[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif] 'ouer' [/FONT]and back again,
[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]'shulde' [/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif]and[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif,sans-serif] 'wolde' to 'should' [/FONT]and 'would'.[/FONT]

​

Of course, our American cousins also have made changes to spellings - seemingly getting rid of "unnecessary" words.

So does it really matter if children change the spellings of things?

 

[Parthelan]

Languages are evolving all the time.

But it depends on the backdrop.

The OED is constantly adding ''new'' or ''evolved'' words, giving them the final stamp of approval, that being, they can be used in scrabble

BUT, would you like your office manager to send a critical email to a potential new client saying:

HiA

Bossman sez meet u l8r 2day 4 d kontrak sigs. C U @ 2. U iz da brik. Laterz.

 

[Beachcomber]

Theres a vast difference between an language evolving and a language being raped of it's beauty through the possession of a lazy thunb.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

Jezza

Ma meen manja, u's bets b gettin dam kontraks n b4 wun oh it's jubs senta + fuz ya,

Spec't

 

[Parthelan]

Jezza

Ma meen manja, u's bets b gettin dam kontraks n b4 wun oh it's jubs senta + fuz ya,

Spec't

K

................

 

[LicensedToTrade]

K

................

k
.......................

 

[Beachcomber]

It's like watching dads dance at a wedding - seriously, pack it in!

 

[madgemr]

Shakespearean literature is a just about as difficult to translate as text-chat vernacular. I think it's come full-circle.

 

[Parthelan]

It's like watching dads dance at a wedding - seriously, pack it in!

K Dad.

Soz.

L8r.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

I trueley despear.

 

[Ashley_Price]

But what we are complaining about with the kids using text spelling nowadays, do you not think that those in the 16th century probably despaired over the changes in spelling? Would today's written word be almost unrecognisable to our ancestors?

It's like music. Whatever age you are, your parents probably complained about the music you listened to when you were a teenager. People would have complained about the Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc., The Osmonds; they probably complained about Glen Miller and the big bands; the twenties "flappers" music; jazz; and so on.

It is a natural progression.

Bossman sez meet u l8r 2day 4 d kontrak sigs. C U @ 2. U iz da brik. Laterz.

No, I wouldn't expect this, because in some cases you are confusing slang with spelling. "Bossman" is not txt spelling for "boss" - why, would you make a word longer?

Theres a vast difference between an language evolving and a language being raped of it's beauty

Many think English of Shakespeare's time was the most beautiful there is, so have we not raped it of its beauty? Or maybe we perhaps should go back to the English of Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales?

 

[LicensedToTrade]

Many think English of Shakespeare's time was the most beautiful there is, so have we not raped it of its beauty? Or maybe we perhaps should go back to the English of Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales?

Many people think that this is a work of art...when quite clearly it's crap

 

[Parthelan]

No, I wouldn't expect this, because in some cases you are confusing slang with spelling.

Who sez it's slang

U iz not hip wit d word innit

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Many people think that this is a work of art...when quite clearly it's crap

Aye,a £27m piece of carp.

 

[James1980]

On the subject of "messages that get modified or degraded as a result of the communication medium":

"Lord Nelson instructed his signal officer to signal to the fleet, as quickly as possible, the message "England confides [i.e. is confident] that every man will do his duty." The officer suggested that "expects" be substituted for "confides", since the former word was in the signal book, whereas confides would have to be spelt out letter-by-letter. Nelson agreed to the change."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_expects_that_every_man_will_do_his_duty

"At a slight sacrifice to smoothness, but with a saving in tolls which often more than compensates, small words may be eliminated from your telegram without impairing the sense."
http://www.telegraph-office.com/pages/telegram.html

And this exchange between the Telegraph’s foreign desk and its man in the Congo:

"Why unnews?"

"Unnews here."

"Unnews there, unjob here."

"Upstickjob arsewards."


James

 

[AdamBeils]

its scary , my nephew is the same way...

 

[Beachcomber]

"Lord Nelson instructed his signal officer to signal to the fleet............

Nelson: "Order the signal, Hardy."
Hardy: "Aye, aye sir."
Nelson: "Hold on, this isn't what I dictated to Flags. What's the meaning of this?"
Hardy: "Sorry sir?"
Nelson (reading aloud): "England expects every person to do his or her duty, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious persuasion or disability.' - What gobbledygook is this for God's sake?"
Hardy: "Admiralty policy, I'm afraid, sir. We're an equal opportunities employer now. We had the devil's own job getting "England" past the censors, lest it be considered racist."
Nelson: "Gadzooks, Hardy. Hand me my pipe and tobacco."
Hardy: "Sorry sir. All naval vessels have now been designated smoke-free working environments."
Nelson: "In that case, break open the rum ration. Let us splice the main brace to steel the men before battle."
Hardy: "The rum ration has been abolished, Admiral. It’s part of the Government's policy on binge drinking."
Nelson: "Good heavens, Hardy. I suppose we'd better get on with it full speed ahead."
Hardy: "I think you'll find that there's a 4 knot speed limit in this stretch of water."
Nelson: "Damn it man! We are on the eve of the greatest sea battle in history. We must advance with all dispatch. Report from the crow's nest, please."
Hardy: "That won't be possible, sir."
Nelson: "What?"
Hardy: "Health and Safety have closed the crow's nest, sir. No harness; and they said that rope ladders don't meet regulations. They won't let anyone up there until proper scaffolding can be erected."
Nelson: "Then get me the ship's carpenter without delay, Hardy."
Hardy: "He's busy knocking up a wheelchair access to the foredeck Admiral."
Nelson: "Wheelchair access? I've never heard anything so absurd."
Hardy: "Health and safety again, sir. We have to provide a barrier-free environment for the differently abled."
Nelson: "Differently abled? I've only one arm and one eye and I refuse even to hear mention of the word. I didn't rise to the rank of admiral by playing the disability card."
Hardy: "Actually, sir, you did. The Royal Navy is under-represented in the areas of visual impairment and limb deficiency."
Nelson: "Whatever next? Give me full sail. The salt spray beckons."
Hardy: "A couple of problems there too, sir. Health and safety won't let the crew up the rigging without hard hats. And they don't want anyone breathing in too much salt - haven't you seen the adverts?"
Nelson: "I've never heard such infamy. Break out the cannon and tell the men to stand by to engage the enemy."
Hardy: "The men are a bit worried about shooting at anyone, Admiral."
Nelson: "What? This is mutiny!"
Hardy: "It's not that, sir. It's just that they're afraid of being charged with mur.der if they actually kill anyone. There are a couple of legal-aid lawyers on board, watching everyone like hawks."
Nelson: "Then how are we to sink the Frenchies and the Spanish?"
Hardy: "Actually, sir, we're not."
Nelson: "We're not?"
Hardy: "No, sir. The French and the Spanish are our European partners now. According to the Common Fisheries Policy, we shouldn't even be in this stretch of water. We could get hit with a claim for compensation."
Nelson: "But you must hate a Frenchman as you hate the devil."
Hardy: "I wouldn't let the ship's diversity coordinator hear you saying that sir. You'll be up on disciplinary report."
Nelson: "You must consider every man an enemy, who speaks ill of your King."
Hardy: "Not any more, sir. We must be inclusive in this multicultural age. Now put on your Kevlar vest; it's the rules. It could save your life."Nelson: "Don't tell me - Health and Safety. Whatever happened to rum, sodomy and the lash?"
Hardy: As I explained, sir, rum is off the menu! And there's a ban on corporal punishment."
Nelson: "What about sodomy?"
Hardy: "I believe that is now legal, sir."





Nelson: "In that case.......... Kiss me, Hardy!"

 

[Stephen Berry]

my kids do summer holiday diaries.
6 year old Joel's diary today contained the brilliant word ....

unyoshally

great - OUP (owner or the Oxford English Dictionary is a customer of mine - I'll alert then to the innovation).

 

[Ashley_Price]

Aye,a £27m piece of carp.

That's a very fishy statement.

 

[td2011]

I fear change, especially this one.