Netspeak and grammar
By mzserena
@mzserena (29)
United States
August 12, 2007 8:51pm CST
We were having a discussion today on a site I frequent about netspeak in professional settings. One point that was brought up was that our written communication ability is deteriorating, yet it was argued that it's not deterioration, but simply changing.
What do you think? Is it deterioration or just change?
2 responses
@rachelnextdoor (187)
• United States
13 Aug 07
I agree that it is a deterioration in the language; however, I do not think the negative impact is far-reaching or likely to be permanent. When reasons for using more formalized language become more readily apparent to people, not just that it sounds better, then the trend will shift back to proper writing forms.
@breepeace (3014)
• Canada
13 Aug 07
It's deterioration.
Kids that use chatspeak, netspeak, textspeak, leetspeak or whatever you'd like to call it have actually been proven to have a more limited vocabulary and lesser spelling skills than kids of that same age group tested 10 years ago. When a 14 year old hesitates on spelling the word 'people' because they're so used to using 'ppl' this is deterioration of the English language.
These short form tech-languages will never actually make it mainstream because the older set views it with nothing but disdain, as do well educated young people, and people that use short forms in all their electronic correspondance will gradually find themselves unconsciously trying to 'save time' when talking, deleting words they find superfluous, cutting down their sentences, having problems with pronunciation (there IS a reason that they still teach phonetics in schools!!), and yes, even using netspeak in their vocalizations. I know SEVERAL people who, unconsciously or not, use the phrase "LOL" when speaking instead of laughing. Sad, but true.
