Please, I’m Begging You, Drop the ‘Net Speak
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Just when you thought is was impossible to further butcher the English language, along comes another shortened, non-sensical ‘word’ used on message boards, chat rooms, and e-mail that may as well be in Sanskrit for all of its readability. Just what the hell is “l33t”, exactly?
High school and college students are turning in papers containing “w00t” and “ROFL”. People are signing e-mail with “Laterz!”. And in a case of utter stupidity, I received the following response to a job ad I had placed looking for, ironically, writers: “I wud like 2 rite 4 U! I rite good english and love 2 rite. I rite all the time! How much will U pay 2 me? Laterz!”.
I wrote back to this idiot and explained that if he wanted to get a job, that paid, in the field of writing, then he would actually, you know, need to be able to write. He wrote back and said basically “who cares about spelling, as long as the reader gets the point?”. He also told me that he was going to be a famous author some day, and then I’d be sorry. Sorry yes, because if this tool becomes a famous author then I weep for the future of literature.
Please people, use your dang brain. If you’re applying for a job, writing a term paper, or talking to anyone whose IQ is a higher number than the age of the average pre-schooler, speak in plain English. It doesn’t have to be fancy or literary or even 100% grammatically correct, although it would be nice if you made an effort. Numerals do not belong in real English words. “Z” does not replace “S” at the end of a plural word, nor can it be tacked on to the end of a word at random. And just because a word can be shortened to a single letter, that doesn’t mean that “U” should do it. Bang out the extra letters - think of it as typing practice.
Have a little respect for the language.
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February 6th, 2006 at 11:24 am
Hey, unPC one! You are right on!
Here’s an article about the phenomena of l33tspeak, and how some people are trying to legitimize it (heresy, I say!):
http://www.aunty-spam.com/netspeak-l33t-internet-and-im-languages-legitimized/
February 9th, 2006 at 8:29 am
I couldn’t agree more. While the language has to be dynamic, any changes should a) obey the few basic rules we have, and b) result in a general improvement in expressibility, depth and elegance. “w00t”, picking on one example, does neither.
Jargon is fine, but please keep it where it belongs. And away from me, too.
Oh, and if anyone turned in a paper with this illiterate alphanumeric scramble, I’d grade them “luser”.
February 11th, 2006 at 1:13 am
Greetings, Gate!
Like, daddy-o, I can dig where you’re coming from the most, baby! These cats just ain’t hip to their Three-R jive and it is just a DRAG, man!
(translation)
Felicitations!
I find myself in complete agreement with your concerns. The modern use of jargon is of the utmost concern to those of us who still believe in using proper English in our speech and writing.
;D
Love,
-MMM-
February 16th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
I don’t see any harm in it in chat rooms, AIM, etc.. It’s short,to the point, and it doesn’t require those in the know to waste time on extra writing. BUT, it doesn’t belong in a letter to your auntie, or especially a job application.
Learning the jargon is not hard so it can’t be the challenge that annoys folks. It could just be the fact that it’s the new computer Ebonics, and therefore, another form of the English language to learn just to communicate on a broader spectrum. Personally, I can do without it, but I can also incorporate into my life if it becomes acceptable, and proves to be useful.
I’m no English expert, don’t plan to be, and would turn myself in if I gave that impression.