Introductions
The thought of this year excites me. Junior Honors English (E308) is now AP English Language and Composition (E319). As I witnessed the Star Power game, I could already see the brilliant minds and intricate thought processes that you all possess. I observe you gaining identities as juniors and embracing the scholarship that this year requests of you.
Congratulations!
If you have anything to add to our Star Power discussion,
you may add it to this thread.
BTW - Some of you made me LOL when I read the information cards.
Is this appropriate web lingo?
Is the internet destroying modern language? ...
changing it for the better?
Chime in right here.
posted by D. Robin @ 8/23/2007
29 comments
29 Comments:
Hmmm, are english teachers allowed to use internet lingo? Isn't there some unwritten rule againt that?
So should this be a formal response? Like whate I would type at school? Or would is this just a few casual sentences for people to agree or disagree upon?
I agree with Robert. Robin’s the first teacher I have met with a blog. It’s cool and awkward, but I love it. It’s a way for quieter people to open up and express themselves. I’m always afraid I’ll say something stupid so I usually keep quiet, but on here I can just reread my typing!
Well, my view is that the internet is pretty much destroying modern language because of IM lingo. There are so many abbreviations and different spelling for words. It bothers me when people don’t use proper grammar on IMs because you’ll start writing in school like that. I know my friend at Frost had me read her paper and it had ‘urs’, ‘wht’, and ‘thnx’ in it. I laughed.
-Adriana!
The internet is, in one sense, a natural destruction and creation of modern language. It has developed its own lexicon, filled with a multitude of words and acronyms. Every age has its own language, and with the advent of the internet, it would appear that a new age has arrived, distinct from the past few centuries. Just as “thee” and “thou,” words from a far older period, have become obsolete, past words and phrases have given way to abbreviated ones, e.g. web log and blog. Smaller size and higher speeds dominate the current time period, and language has evolved to adapt to this new demand.
On a far broader scale, perhaps the internet can be paradoxically seen as the devolution of human knowledge, in that quality and eloquence of information has declined, and the evolution of it, in that accessibility, speed, and diversification of public opinions and ideas have vastly improved. But idk, imho, these issues are usually far more complex than we can interpret or c.
Kevin Chen
How can the internet be destroying modern language when print media is dying and converting to web-based media? The only thing destroying modern language is laziness. Kids are too lazy to spell correctly (ahem, vishal) and therefore mutilate our language. On the other hand, Language is evolving in our fast-paced society. Back during colonial times there were many unecessary vowels added to words that were later cut due to convinience. Sometimes its more important to communicate at all than to worry about how it is done.
Shaina Cavazos
Personally, I find it comforting for you to write in internet lingo. You saying "LOL" lightens the mood and makes this Blog seem more casual. I find it terrible how much the internet has influenced my life, especially when it comes to my language skills. Because of typing on AIM all the time, I have a tendency to constantly type in lowercase. I actually had to go back and change a couple of the "i's" in this paragraph to "I's". That was valuable time wasted! If the internet hadn't made me so lazy in my typing, I could have done it right the first time. Back on the subject of Mr. Robin saying "LOL", I personally find the term "LOL" hilarious. We all know that half the time we aren't really laughing out loud and we merely say it as a way to show respect to the other person. It's as if you're saying "oh I comprehend the fact that you were trying to be funny, but in all actuality you didn't make me laugh, but I'll recognize the fact that you tried". Rarely do I ever actually laugh at something someone says online. I do think talking online builds some kind of character though. Sure talking on AIM wont build your skills, but if you do thinks such as Blog like this, it could be very beneficial to your writing and communication skills.
Net lingo is the modern language, considering that they even have dictionaries dedicated to the subject. With new technology that already makes communication faster and easier, people will come up with abbreviations to communicate even faster and easier. I don't expect to be speaking the way Americans did back when they still had horse-drawn carriages. Although using chatspeak in formal writing assignments is still a big taboo, anyone is free to use it online. The internet is home to a myriad of strangers that we “talk” to on a daily basis so who can tell if he or she is an English teacher or not?
I agree with Rob on this one. It's just something you don't expect to happen. This is because a common stereotype for English teachers is that they should be proper and spell everything properly.
On your other question, I do not feel that the internet is completely destroying our modern language. This is because I type the same online as I would write in class or in an essay. Although for other people I've seen that that's a different story. I know several people who have accidentally written "b/c","w/", or other internet lingo on a school assignment. Still though, I do not feel that it is totally destroying it, but I also do not feel that it is changing it for the better.
The internet is neither helping nor hurting the basis of modern language. We as a people are extremely and, at times, disturbingly lazy. Internet “lingo” is merely an extension of this happening. On the internet we have replaced almost 6000 phrases in normal language with abbreviations (ie. LOL, BTW, POS). So why doesn’t it hurt the language? It’s because we aren’t awkwardly lack common sense, or at least some of us don’t. I’ve never seen anyone actually say LOL BTW W/E to me nor will any one use it in a class paper or anything they write.
Vishal Naik
In response to "Is the internet destroying modern language?":
I really don't believe that web lingo is destroying modern language. If anything, it's just a sign of the times. Our language has come a long way. I mean, imagine how you would react to hear someone speaking in the halls speaking Shakespearean dialect. You'd think they were nuts(as well as a few other things, but keeping my post G-rated).
Well, just imagine our language 150 years from now how different things will be. And you think this "online lingo" will ever affect the written language as we know it?...any comments?
I personally think that slang is ruining our language. One of the reasons is, I don't know about you but, when I'm writing in a class I have to work VERY hard to try to not use "internet lingo". Does that mean I now don't still use it even though it makes it more thought challenging in class....no. As for English teachers using it I agree with Rob I think there's kind of an unwritten rule about that one.
I think that "internet lingo" is a negative influence because it's limiting the number of words that we know and that we use to express ourselves and basically destroying our knowledge of spelling and the English language by promoting laziness.
Brittney Gergen
To Ally:
i find it increasingly difficult to write with capital letters. why is the shift key so important? perhaps it's an issue of ethos (it is) - we'll talk about this appeal in class.
As for the LOL, you have pegged my appeal to pathos (excellent job!).
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To Kevin, Shaina, and Sweeney:
Great example with older dialects and Shakespearean language! I do wonder how language will change in the coming years. Why do you suppose abbreviations will become appropriate?
uhh...i normally wouldnt talk like this in an english response...but i also wouldnt normally blog for participation i think that's really wierd..eww technology..but i like it.
anyways i think the internet is definitely destroying handwriting. idk about the english language though because even though we can use internet lingo on here, most teachers are always gonna be against it and not let you use it. until you're out of school and you have no teachers and your brain rots DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUUNNNN!!!!
ok im done.
~Ciara Curran~
This comment is about the "star power" game we played in class. While we were playing, I related the game to social classes; Alpha being the rich, Beta being upper-middle class and Gamma being the middle and lower classes. Each time the poor grew in numbers while the rich faded, slowly weeding out the middle class. While the rich decreased in numbers they increased in wealth and power, making the “Alpha” status harder and harder to achieve. The only reason that I even ended up in the alpha group was because Mr. Robin gave me his chips, which I accounted to winning the lottery or something of that sort. I’m not sure if I worded all or that correctly but I always hear my Dad complaining about issues like this, and when we played the game that’s what I was reminded of.
Brittney Gergen
To Ally:
I prefer to use "lqtm" over "lol." I think it conveys the message of a "normal" reaction to something funny read on the internet. Instead of "laughing out loud," I'm only "laughting quitely to myself."
To The Star Power Game:
I did not understand what you were trying to convey. From what I inferred from Mr. Robin, you were supposed to be about emotion versus logic. I guess I just feel as if a simple example could have served the same purpose, but with more of an impact. I do applaud Mr. Robin, however, for making the first day fun, unlike all my other classes. Back to the topic at hand, the Star Power Game could have been replaced with a simple scenario. A scenario that could work might be something like:
You are stranded in the desert with only the clothes on your back, and your canteen containing water. You're nearly out of the oven-like desert, but your water is running low, and you only have enough for yourself. If you were to lose any, you would not make it out of the desert alive. As you're marching towards salvation, you come across a little girl, around six or seven years old, dying of thirst, hunger, and heat. She crawls towards you, gripping your leg, begging you for water. You can see her cracked, dry skin, and her entire body burnt to a cinder. She'd be crying, but she's so dehydrated, she can't even produce tears. So the question is, do you give her water, knowing that you will perish, or do you trudge on, leaving the girl behind to die alone?
If you have read the example, really think about what you would do. Could you turn down her only wish?
In the end, either method, the game or the example, are sufficient, but which is better?
Chris Haase
My thoughts, and I know this isn't long enough to be counted as participation, are that 'chat lingo' is killing the internet. I think that if you are to type things online, you shouldn't use acronyms to depict your emotions and actions online. Read this list and see how ridiculous it is: http://www.aim.com/acronyms.adp It's disgusting! Who in the right mind would ever use the acronym 'BTDTGTTSAWIO' to say 'I've been there before!' To me, internet lingo is a disgrace and just shows a lack of respect for whoever you are telling to. It shows that you are too lazy to tell them the whole thing, you just want to drop a fast 'lol' instead of replying to the joke that they told, or telling them that you think it is funny. I just hope that all language doesn't fall to the level of the speech used in 'txt' and that we don't walk around saying 'lol' because it is easier than acknowledging the humor in the persons statement.
-Sam McKenzie
The debate of whether on not the internet is destroying modern language is so interesting to me, so I hope it is not too late for me to chime in! The problem is not that internet lingo is ripping apart our precious language, the problem we are truly facing, in my opinion, is laziness and,or conformity. Think about it. Teens want/need to fit in the "norm"(whether they realize it or not). Now, Don’t assume I am accusing anyone of not thinking for themselves because my class alone proves the incredible mind power of my peers. This will show you what I mean..
Sally: i dunno wat im gonna do, but thnkx 4 all ur help with this prob. =] ly so0o0o much! bff!
Bailey: It was not a problem in the slightest. I hope my opinion will make all of this easier on you and know I will always grant you endless support. You are my best friend as well, Sally!
Think about if you were online talking to one of your friends using internet lingo and they replied to you like Bailey replied to Sally. It would be considered very weird. Some people might even think they were being mocked! There aren't any rules as to how we communicate while on AIM, so if one wanted to speak like Bailey they could. It just wouldn't be seen as normal behavior...
Lexi Kahan
I caused quite a stir, with utter nonsense to boot. Go me!
-Rob
hahaha lqtm.. go demetri martin lol
anyways. i wanna say about the internet lingo that maybe like a hundred years from now we will still have english how it is today but it will be like reading shakespear or hawthorne and nobody will really talk like that in real life..wierd..because that's probably the same reason we talk like we do now..people got lazy and said things differently. and about the star power it reminded me of real life too. the rich people got to make the rules so of course they made rules to benefit themselves so they kept getting richer when they didnt need it and it got harder and harder for anyone else to gain many chips (unless mr robin gave you some).
Personally, I don’t think teachers should be allowed to use netspeak. They can in personal blogs because everyone is entitled to their own opinions and laziness, but in a class blog like this, I think the teacher (especially as an English teacher, no, scratch that. Especially as an AP English teacher) should show the example of proper grammar and spelling. Sure, Mr. Robin is doing it to show example, but I think it is awkward.
The use of acronyms shows laziness. Sure, the rest of the world may use them too, but Americans are already viewed as lazy and we don’t need more to add to that list.
Plus, “lol” really isn’t used accurately used because it means “laugh out loud.” Well, “laugh out loud” is a command. If it were “laughing out loud,” that would logically make sense; however, it is still a phrase. Still, I’m not against using lol. I use it, though most often I just like to say “hahaha” or “hehe” or “tehe” depending on the circumstance.
Also, I believe that internet lingo is destroying our language, but we can not blame it on that alone. Slang is a major contributor to that. In fact, in Mrs. Lopez’s 5th hour class, she told us that she heard about a study that concluded that in 50 years, English and American will two separate languages. I find that a shame since I LOVE British words, like “gob-smacked” for example. They show a peculiar, intriguing twist that our slang just doesn’t meet.
As for the capitalization, I will admit that there was a while when I just did away with it all in instant message or email. However, over the summer, I realize how dim-witted and almost degrading it was. I see Mr. Robin’s point of saying that using capitalization shows ethos. will i respect sum1 who tlks lik ths & doesnt use ‘s or capitalization or mispells words? (wow, Microsoft Word wanted to change all of those to their correct spelling and grammar, but you see my point.) Over the summer I started using that shift key again when I came into contact with a friend of mine who I greatly admired. I looked up to this person and noticed that when I said “i” instead of “I,” it showed inferiority because he always used proper punctuation. I am relieved to type much better now, though I am far from perfect.
I also find it disappointing that I can see my spelling change so dramatically since about fourth grade. I used to be a great speller, but now I’m constantly second guessing myself because technology makes it so easy to correct it for you. Well, that is how I feel on the paradox of how technology is expedient but is also destroying our language and intellect. Oh, by the way, I HATE it when people type “your” instead of “you’re.” That, the computer cannot fix for you so you’re on your own. ( =] I think I’m getting a hang of this rhetoric thing because I totally meant to type it like that!)
Oh, there are two more things I would like to share. If internet lingo is used to show the familiarity and casualty of the conversation, why not spice it up with smiley face?! :D =] :-P I love throwing those in whenever I can because it shows emotion when emotion is hard to describe in text. Does anyone disagree to the use of smiley faces? (I guess you could argue that by using smiley faces, you’re depriving yourself of the challenge it’d be to describe your emotions instead of making the faces do it for you. But besides that.) Also, do phrases severely destroy our language? We often speak in phrases anyway. Ha, I think that if we didn’t, sometimes we could sound like robots. Does that make sense? Well that’s all I can muster for now. I like this blog; it’s fun. Call me a geek, but intellectual conversations rock! :D
Michelle Larson
=)
I think it is so interesting how words come and go, some are permanently integrated into the English language, and others become obsolete. As "lazy" or "destructive" as internet slang seems, it is just a fad of our generation, and is also something that will most likely eventually die out. Just as we no longer use words such as "groovy" or "rad" from past decades, eventually internet slang will become a thing of the past.
-Jenny White
hm. well i know that just about all of you seem to be against the whole instant message lingo, but, and i know im going to get someone who completely disagrees with me on this and stick it to me, i really do like the use of the AIM talk. i can typically use proper spelling and punctuation on written or typed papers for school or that are of other importance. however, i do like to write in abreviations when im online, or i guess now on a blog. personally, i do get lazy at times (ok, most times), but its nice to sometimes put less effort into things of less importance. now, i don't want any of you to get the wrong idea that my friends aren't important, but it's more of a casual thing really. i personally think that slag is used to make conversations shorter and more to-the-point. im a big fan of the gonna's, wanna's, shoulda's, etc. and as for the "lol", what exactly would you say in place of it to not sound overly lazy? "oh your joke was quite funny and it made me smile"? i don't know about anyone else, but that's just not me. i do use a "haha" or "hehe" in place of the "lol". does that count as not showing emotion?
in fact, i think that using the AIM lingo can be beneficial. for one thing, you will be more used to writing shorthand and using abbreviations to take notes which can be especially helpful during a college lecture. (think about it!), and, as i mentioned earlier, it makes convo's more to-the-point which can possibly be helpful when you need to tell someone something, but are in a time-crunch.
and by the way (im not gonna lie, i rele wanted to use btw), to michelle, i don't see any problem with using smilies. i personally, think they can somewhat express how one feels just fine and are cute as well. i like receiving smilies.
now, the only reason i wrote mostly of this in more "proper" english is because i thought i remembered mr. robin saying something about making it sound proper or something like that.
i hope i didn't offend anyone by this. if so, then that was not at all my intention. i just felt like defending my right to be "lazy" in my writing, as well as maybe opening up others to another point-of-view since most of you are against the AIM lingo.
<333caitlin becker
This discussion reminds me of 1984. They kept compounding the English language into a smaller and smaller amount of words. I don’t think that Internet lingo is entirely responsible, but I think it has caused a huge impact. We as Americans chose to do things the fast and easy way rather than the time consuming way which has a better product in the long run. Instead of spending the time to call someone and have a conversation with him or her, we send him or her a text message that requires little to no effort. Because we created the Internet and Internet lingo, I believe we are ultimately responsible for the destruction of our language.
-Scott Sobie
-Period 8
I don't think that internet lingo is desroying modern language. Internet lingo are just abbreviations.
I really don't think that the internet lingo really effects our lives and how we live them. Times change, people change, languages change. Teens like to use their own little phrases such as LOL, G2G, or IDK MY BFF JILL? (haha) just because it creates more of a barrier between their parents and themselves. They want to be original and different from what their parents did at kids. Personally, I don't think it's hurting anyone, becuase it's not like at a job interview at twenty you will be like IDK?
Sarah Kitlinski
i dont think it is really destroying modern language. most of us wouldnt actually write "u" instead of "you" in a school paper, and if someone does, then obviously he or she spends way too much time on the internet. when somewhere around five years of internet lingo overrides the common language that a person has been learning for his or her entire life, it just means that addiction has taken over and he or she needs serious help. overall, basically just use it for convenience but dont overdo it
I don't think inernet lingo is destroying modern language. To begin with, the concept of a modern world is always changing, and as a result so are things of everyday use (such as writing). Most people today, especially in the U.S., lead fast-paced lives that must be in constant flow 24-7. Internet lingo makes it faster 4us 2 rite things, especially wen we dont got time. Its more conveniant 4 us. However, I still think that people should use correct language and grammar when it matters (school). Other than that its all good.
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