Topic: Text Messages “shortcuts” are destroying our kids Grammar.
BY FRANCISCO DURAN ROSILLO/GOOGLE BLOGGER
Before my son writes a note, I need to check he will not use the same “shortcuts” he uses to “text” his friends over the phone network.
R u there? Means: Are you there?; yes I do; see u 2nigth.
I am perplex, not for the short un usual expressions, is because I am pretending improve my grammar in my written English, meanwhile my son and his friends are pretending to ignore or destroy the Grammar Rules.
Kids have not mercy of their language. I have a serious conversation with my teenage son telling that USA is the country of the Trademarks and when he finish his college he needs to do business all over the world, so he can not replay a letter like a text message.
English is the language of technology, of television, of photography, of car industry and many fields use their manuals on this language. In the world of business the domain language is English.
Is a passion learn this language, I was telling my wife that the key to write and speak good English is think in English.
My frustration is I am doing an effort to understand, learn and keep Grammar rules, checking my dictionary meanwhile my son down stairs on this cold day down stairs texting his friends.
Even my son use the argument that he is limited to 160 characters to express his message, that is not an excuse to break important spelling and grammar rules.
But the problem is global, not only in English kids break words, all over the world in other languages are shortcuts to express, so I believe that very soon dictionaries will include the new codes for texting over the phone.
Our grammar probably is less “corrosive” that the text effect, and probably the new generations will see an editorial or a good article like a weird thing because there is not a use of the “shortcuts” kids love to use.
My son belongs to the Igeneration: he use Imac; Iphone; and we already have 3 mac laptops, 1 G5, and other 2 Apple computers. Weird, no I so this situation coming when my son was on Barnwell elementary school in Alpharetta, and he told me he have a computer lab, on second grade and he was learning how to use a new Mac. I understand, now I use a Mac for school, work and to write my Blogs, and very soon somebody will use this name, the “Imac Generation”. A futuristic branding strategy to reposes the market, Great job to Mr., Steve Jobs.
