lowering of standards

[Doc Spock]

Are people in general becoming less able to communicate properly due to reduced vocabulary usage and text spelling abbreviations. Our language is very rich but I suspect that in about 50 years the number of words generally used will have diminished.I read the Autobigraphy of Bob Monkhouse and in the first 50 pages had a list of 20 or so words I had to look up in the dictionary. Good book well recommended.

[Skreecheeboy]

Mmhmm.

[tiny e.a]

Yes I think it is diminishing in general use but you will always have people who pride themselves on their vocabulary and correct grammar (and rightly so!) My vocabulary is okay but it's common for me to come across words in literature that I have to look up, the trouble is I'm getting worse and worse at actually remembering these words once I have learnt them so I am not improving! Since leaving education I can also feel myself going downhill, it takes me longer to think of words I want to use, although I suspect that in a more stimulating work place I would probably improve.

[Black Noir]

completely agree and all the while snotty kids sit there with Ninendo DS's and msn each other rather than reading a book or playing using their imaginations its only going to get worse.

I for one am going to use this hypothesis to avoid buying my kids expensive personal game machines on their birthdays but take them to the Library instead !

[Octavius]

Its cyclical evolution. It is natural for a language to constantly change and adapt, hence we always have new �street� phrases that the youngsters reinvent to confuse us old�uns and then there are many many words that fall out of general or common usage either because they become offensive, old-fashioned or a forgotten phrase from a regional dialect. I read quite a lot and this helps expand the mind as well as the vocabulary, perhaps it is the general capacity to read and understand anything remotely challenging that is lacking or lowering in standards. Innit.

It isn�t a lowering of standards, merely moving with the times. In 50 years we may well end up talking like what as if they do in The Sun, or the latest BigBrother faux celeb biography. But hopefully not.

Pedants of the world untie.

[warpig3]

Mrwarpig is a secondary school teacher and it is not uncommon for him to show me essays that the children have written using text speak.

[Octavius]

We have a very rich and evolved language, and really we should celebrate its constant evolution, whether we like it or not. I wouldn't say that anyone using or not using vocabulary is snobbish or lazy but people who belong to those extremes will no doubt consider it of the other.

If our language didn�t evolve we might say something akin to Middle English (after Old English/Saxon from Norman conquest to late 13th C) perhaps even up to early modern English like:

And farewel, swete, my worldes blysse! I praye God youre sorwe lysse. To lytel while oure biysse lasteth (14th C)

Or even Shakespearian English (who himself invented nearly 2,000 words in his works and experienced his own process of artistic growth, to find its adequate projection in dramatic form). But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? (16th C)

General Elizabethan: You madame are a wayward toad-spotted vassal, and her husband is a churl.

Perhaps early Victorian. You Sir, are a scoundrel and a boor!

Late Vic/ Early 20th C. Cor guvnor strike a light, and that ain t no mistake.

Post modern: Gr8 innit m8. C u l8r 4 bevs.

[Doc Spock]

My point exactly Octavious.
How many of to-days youngers will aspire to being as eloquent as your esteemed self.
I have no problem with the evolution of language only the devalution.

[Octavius]

The devaluation from which historic point Doc?

When would you consider our language was at its peak?

[Doc Spock]

By jove Octavious you do make good points. I don't think any language reaches a peak due to the addition of new or invented words. Recent additions being manflu, wags, carbon footprint etc.
I don't like the thoughts of being unable to be completely expressive due to a limited vocab.
I'm basically saying good gramitacal use of language is important.

[Doc Spock]

ooops. spelt that wrong. Too quick on keyboard,sorry.

[Octavius]

But we become expressive by use of newer up to date words in every day language and communication and we translate these into written word. If this takes the form of modern prose then we can still regard this eloquent and no less erudite than some Victorian Mr Darcy waffle. Now good doctor, I must trespass no longer upon your kindness, and bid ye good morrow.

[Doc Spock]

cya l8r

[Cockney_si]

I don't really think they are I think maybe it's just escapism.... I text regularly and I also use predictive text which actually encourages me to spell correctly.

The late Stanley Unwin made a career in speaking nonsense.

And aslo reesarch has shwon taht a wrod deos not hvae to be spelt corerctly for the brain to undresatnd it. As long as the fisrt and last letters are in the correct place and the letters are similar.

[Cockney_si]

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in what oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae.
The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig.

[Octavius]

One thing I can�t abide is bad speeling.

[Black Noir]

I believe Cockney Si this is as a result of "chunking" letters into groups so that our bains can make sense of them and thus it doesnt matter if the letters subsequently change to a degree. I think these are the primacy and recency laws?

May I also congratulate you Doc on a well balance Question that has remained here over 4 hours now without being removed!!

[Coldicote]

Dictionaries are not as helpful as they might be when it comes to pronunciation with phonetic symbols. It's like having to learn two languages.

[Cockney_si]

Oh and Coldicote you have to know how to spell to look up a word in a dictionary anyway...lol

[princessxena]

The written word is becoming obsolete, with preferred mediums such as pda's, pc's and texts becoming the norm. Children do not spend time reading, they follow the trends and thus are not entirely responsible for the deminishing use of the language when even television use phonetical speeling, slang and text speak. Unfortunately no one seems to write anymore,caligraphy is not taught in schools. It is a shame because the written word is one of the best gifts endowed on us as a species and we are severely neglecting it.