R Ur Kidz More Literate 2day?
Tuesday July 29, 2008
The New York Times takes an in-depth look at whether casual online reading and writing merits consideration as a serious communication style. Some experts believe that while the younger generation may type in code and spend time reading fan fiction rather than classic novels, at least they're reading more nowadays as opposed to watching television. Other analysts lament the widespread use of abbreviations and misspellings, dismissing online activities as a waste of mental energy.
How do you feel about this revolutionary development in literacy trends? Do you think students today read more or less than before the Internet age?
Comments
English is already an amalgam of many other languages. Over years it has resisted the battering of many fads, trends and abbreviations that wax and wane in the vernacular. At different points in our history we openly spoke French, Anglo Saxon and Norse. But English is highly adaptable and this underlying strength is able to fend off temporary misuse like shedding a skin. Thus any fad abuse will eventually fall by the wayside, and we can relax in this ever evolving world of communication safe in the knowledge that it will self correct. In the meantime you can turn this evolution into a great educational game English games
There’s no doubt that changes in the language will occur.
They have in the past (very few people today could understand the English spoken in the 18th Century) and will in the future.
If literature and communication are possible, who can tell what English will look like in three centuries? (Or even less!)
What’s the difference between text and slang! LOL We all have used both and we still know the King’s language pretty well! Text is another form of writting notes. Remember those…”If you like Brian put a check in the box!” LOL I am so glad our children want to read and are communicate with each other (text) than sitting around playing X-Box all day.
What a coincidence, I read my daughter email the day before yesterday and found many errors in the correspondance from Avalon who will be a seventh grader this coming year. I informed my girs who are only nine to always make certain to prove read their text and if I found incorrect spelling in their texting or emails their email privilege will come to an end. I emailed Avalon and asked why she was so careless with her spelling she blamed it on her speed and not editing afterwards. She giggled(with smiling face)and wrote “You can still read it and get the message” I found it appauled. I informed her when she emails my daughters she is to use correct spelling. I am blessed she does not use profanity or curse words. My daugher Katie said too relax because it was the norm when communicating at school too. I guess the teachers do not intervene since the kids do it during recess or lunch. I hope Mr. Owens is correct when he says fads come and go.
Ms. Higdon needs to watch her own grammar. I found the following mistakes in her note:
1.daughter (should be daughter’s)
2. informed my girs (should be girls)
3. prove read their text (proof read)
4. (with smiling face) should be (with a smiling face)
5. I found it appauled (should be appalling)
6. from Avalon who will be (the daughter is in 7th grade, not Avalon)
7. said too relax (to relax)
This is BAD.