It's OK to Forget English Class on the Internet

[eponinethen]

I mean if I went into the Spanish forum and tried to understand a post made with errors, I'd probably have a very difficult time.

Lol, not that I think English for me is like Spanish for you (unless you watch spanish tv shows and movies three hours every day), but thanks for understaning me 😀

("I go online sometimes, but everyone's spelling is really bad, and it's ... depressing.")

 

[ProphecyGirl]

Hillarious. *pities*

 

[The Arcane]

Hillarious. *pities*

Umm, would it be unkind of me to point out you spelt hilarious incorrectly? 😉

 

[Mr. Pointy]

I can only agree with most of what has been posted before. With English being the lingua franca of the internet I think it is important that we native English speakers make an effort to get it right (for the benefit of those for whom it is a second language), rather than adopt the lazy attitude that "most people will understand". If you can't be bothered to do that stick to SMS text messaging 😉😛

 

[Frenchy Faith]

I can see how non native English speakers have problems with them, but when you're talking to an American or Brit and they mess them up, then I can understand what you're talking about.

Actually, I noticed the contrary, I saw more than once some American & Brit having problem with them, when I never did as far as I know. & I think it's mainly because we, non English speakers are taught the thing inside out, when for English people, it's like, it's so easy that it's not worth learning. & it's the same for all languages I believe, I noticed the same case was happening for the French, I make mistakes that foreign students wouldn't make because they've learnt the rule, & all that stuff.
The mistake is also made on the words : then (next) & than (comparative) by the way

Now, (about time...) but I'd like to say thanky to Faith, for telling me off & asking me to write the full words, (that was quite a long time ago)... because in the end it proved to be useful to me. I still abbreviate sometimes, like ppl for people, but I mostly try not to anymore as I noticed I took bad habits.... & that then, I made mistakes on my English tests for I was not being careful enough, & once you've taken bad habits, sometimes you don't even realize what mistakes you're making. & the English mistakes + the spelling mistakes, I guess it makes me not understandable sometimes, lol
Plus I noticed it doesn't really takes more time, it's prettier to see a full written text. So as I said, thanky Faith :winking15

 

[Faith]

Now, (about time...) but I'd like to say thanky to Faith, for telling me off & asking me to write the full words, (that was quite a long time ago)... because in the end it proved to be useful to me.

It was never my intention to tell you off, just remind you of the board FAQ's about kewl talk. The whole point in having it was because in the past we found that many people were having problems reading posts. We don't just make rules up for the fun of 😉

But that was a long time ago that I pm'ed you about it, but i'm glad that its helped you 🙂

 

[SlayerThe]

I was actually thinking about this thread the other day in my Expository Writing class.

Even though I may be native to the English language, my grammar and spelling are nowhere near the level that I feel they should be. Which is why I read my English book during my free period yesterday 😛

 

[nerd4hire]

Other commonly misspelled words on Message boards -

Definitely: It's definitely not "definately"

Separate and Desperate: One has two A's. The other doesn't.

Canon and Cannon: Canon in a Buffyverse context is something that's accepted as fact within the study of the verse. A cannon is what go boom.

Possibility: One L

Excite: notice the C.

 

[elmo]

I am just going to say that I think it's important to use proper spelling and grammar at all times. It makes it so mush easier to understand the tone and the meaning that the poster is trying to put across.

 

[nerd4hire]

Also once you've shown a knowledge of the rules, it becomes possible, on occasion to break them, and not be thought the less of.

You might use a phrase like whataya, or a word like anywho, to give your sentence a new kind flavour.

Or you might say something like "cannon go boom", rather that "a cannon goes boom", just to be cutesy, and be allowed to get away with it. 😀

A proven ability to express yourself correctly within the rules of language can give you power.

 

[Mr. Pointy]

elmo agrees: I still spell everything correctly when I send a text message. Is that sad?

Not at all hon - there are quite a few of us about🙂 You just have to be careful whilst using predictive text 🙂

 

[Willow Rosenberg]

English lesson of the day:

Its - belonging to it

It's - contraction of "It is"

--------------------------------

too - also

two - a number

to - as in "I'm giving a present to you."

 

[Amber Benson]

I thought this was pretty funny to read.... I recently joined an mIRC chat where they had strict rules about short-forms... They weren't allowed at all!!! No idk's or any other acronyms etc... It was hard because I'm the laziest person on the net... So I got yelled at a lot... Meh...

 

[Mr. Pointy]

English lesson part two -

They're = a contraction of "they are"
Their = belonging to them
There = a location - not "here"

You see what you started with your English lessons, Cordelia? I'm on my high horse now 😉 The above are annoying, much, to my pedantic eyes 🙂

 

[Allycat]

I must say, I am very much torn on this subject.

First off, let me say that, like Nerd4Hire, I think it's really important to know the correct rules of spelling and grammar, but whether you should at all times abide by them is a whole different question.

Being a non-native student of English at University, I should be all in favour of correct spelling and grammar. I use it on the boards (that is, what I believe to be correct), but not in chat. In fact, when chatting to my fellow-student (we speak this weird English/Dutch hybrid language) neither they nor I speak correct English. We abbreviate everything, use slang words, and never use apostrophes; even though, we should all be able to write perfect English. (We are not sure yet, though; we still have to get our grades for Grammar, Writing, and Translation back! 😉)

I agree that for non-natives it is easier to understand correct English. However, is it not also true that, in the end, a language belongs to its natives and not to the non-natives? Would you accept a collect-call from a total stranger? I think not; you would not want to pay, just because some stranger wants to talk to you. The same goes with language, why would you have to put in an effort when we wish to communicate in your language. It is, after all, our choice to communicate in English and not in our native tongue. The abbreviated language, the kewl-talk, and slang are a part of that language and an integral part of that language when communicating on-line.

I think, however, that in most cases incorrect use of spelling and grammar is not done purposefully, but out of shear ignorance. I think that honestly many people do not know "definitely" is not spelled "definately" and since there is no spell-check on the Boards or on MSN, they will type and post it like this.

I have a different more question for you all. Is it okay, to use contractions on boards and on MSN, because (as you can read in my Lesson of the Day) in written word, you are not supposed to use contractions.

As for the spelling and grammar check in Word, it is all fine to use the spelling check, but do NOT rely on Word for grammar, because it is horrifically bad at grammar.

ENGLISH LESSON OF THE DAY:
In written word, one is not supposed to contract. So, remember: don't contract! 😉

 

[SpikedBuffy]

I do not accept it.

I really am opposed to it because kids/teenagers are using it so much because they are constantly on the internet, and then they transfer that bad english to their reports and papers.

My fifteen year old sister uses the letter U for you in her homework assignments, and doesn't understand why she gets points taken off. I just can't stand it.

 

[Allycat]

I dare to bet you, that 10 to 20 (maybe 30, if you're lucky) years from now, this will be correct English... language is dynamic. (I'd like it, if it weren't, then I wouldn't have to learn English from Old to New anymore. 😉) Does anyone remember words like "thou" and "thee?" We don't use them anymore either, do we?

 

[Willow Rosenberg]

I'm not sure if certain things will ever become acceptable in proper documents and thus included into the English Dictionary.

As far as grammar goes, it's very important wherever you are writing to show where one thought ends and another begins. This involves the use of periods, commas, semi-colons, etc. It's also important to capitalize the first letter of a sentence. I read so many posts and emails that are so jumbled, that it is difficult to understand the person's point.

Honestly, I know there are times when we all rush through certain posts, emails, etc., but errors that affect the meaning of your point shouldn't be ignored.

 

[nerd4hire]

Then there's paragraphing.

You know how people will sometimes glomp a long string of jumpled, disconnected thoughts into one gigantic paragraph? I don't like that.

It's not that I'm afraid to read long posts. Quite often I prefer them; but when I see an overlong paragraph on a message board I very rarely read it.

My immediate reaction is anyone who would present something in that format can't be offering anything worth committing the time to that would be necessary to read it.

 

[Jill_Valentine]

I must say, I am very much torn on this subject.

First off, let me say that, like Nerd4Hire, I think it's really important to know the correct rules of spelling and grammar, but whether you should at all times abide by them is a whole different question.

Being a non-native student of English at University, I should be all in favour of correct spelling and grammar. I use it on the boards (that is, what I believe to be correct), but not in chat. In fact, when chatting to my fellow-student (we speak this weird English/Dutch hybrid language) neither they nor I speak correct English. We abbreviate everything, use slang words, and never use apostrophes; even though, we should all be able to write perfect English. (We are not sure yet, though; we still have to get our grades for Grammar, Writing, and Translation back! 😉)

I agree that for non-natives it is easier to understand correct English. However, is it not also true that, in the end, a language belongs to its natives and not to the non-natives? Would you accept a collect-call from a total stranger? I think not; you would not want to pay, just because some stranger wants to talk to you. The same goes with language, why would you have to put in an effort when we wish to communicate in your language. It is, after all, our choice to communicate in English and not in our native tongue. The abbreviated language, the kewl-talk, and slang are a part of that language and an integral part of that language when communicating on-line.

It's a courtesy we should extend to non-native speakers out of respect. If I haven't bothered to learn their language, the least I can do is put a little effort into my end of the conversation.

I can hold a conversation in English, or, provided the topic is something terribly boring, Irish. In any other language, I'm lost. The only other language I ever attempted to study was French, and thanks to my best friend, a fluent French speaker, sneaking obscene phrases into my homework, suffice it to say it did not go well. Though I type fairly well, I swear like an injured dockworker and have not finished an "-ing" word for as long as I can remember.

Internet language sometimes serves a purpose. I actually don't mind a few abbreviations here and there, and spelling, unless the author is so careless as to suggest disrespect, doesn't bother me too badly either. Though kewl talk does largely bug the hell out of me, "lol!" makes far more sense than typing "I find that so funny I'm laughing, though you can't hear it! Ha Ha, I say!" and the manipulation of grammar in new ways isn't always a bad thing.

Extremely abbreviated language is acceptable in a chatroom, but constantly using it where it's unnecessary, a forum for example, is different. It makes the author look lazy. The overall disregard for established rules on the Internet isn't always a bad thing, only in high concentration.

Language, as Allycat said, is dynamic, and evolves into different flavours. One of the most difficult things in the world for me to write is an English character. Irish-English is just different enough from English-English to make it extraordinarily difficult for me to spot what an Irish person would say that an English person would not. Consequently, any English character I write sounds unnervingly like Yosemite Sam. I don't know why or how this keeps happening, but it does.