R we going 2 far 2 avoid using words?
 

Does it bother anyone else that in this forum (as in other places) people will go to almost ridiculous extreme to avoid typing a word?

Any day I expect to see something like this in Fodor's:

BTW, b/c w/411 of a gr8 O/L ra8 the gf+i SHG str8 to SFO 4 24/7 7/24, im PO.

What finally pushed me over the top was a current thread titled "Can 1 still visit Hammersmith Farm?" At first, I thought the poster had typed the number 1 rather than capital letter I. But reading the text, it seems clear that "1" was typed on purpose to stand for the word "one."

I don't mean to pick on this poster in particular. At least the word "one" is spelled out when the question is repeated in the first sentence. But really--"one" is to long or difficult a word to spell or type? This makes no sense.

I know that the substitution of numbers and single letters for words started in rapper culture, perhaps as a statement for simplification of language, or of a belief that standard English is an instrument of repression, and has spread as an indicator of cool.

I believe our language is a thing of beauty and words are to be lovingly caressed. I also think that many people who, though they don't quite share my love of the language, don't agree with the opinions which motivated the rappers either, are thoughtlessly apeing this type of English usage, not wanting to stand out as uncool. To me, written communication among us is getting seriously degraded from what it used to be not long ago, and this is one of the larger reasons.

At the very least, I just find this word avoidance unnecessary, pretentious and elitist in its own way, and irritating. In an English-speaking country, nothing is more democratic and inclusive than standard English. Dictionaries are everywhere, even online, as are spellcheckers and grammar help. The resources to join the "club" are easily available to everyone with basic English language skill.

Those who lack that skill are unlikely to be using this forum, and attaining it may be hard, but desirable for many other reasons besides participating in Fodor's, if one is living where English is predominant. But I think the people whose writing habits I'm talking about have had, in most cases, plenty of schooling in English.

I'm also ticked off by the use of two or three letter acronyms for EVERYTHING. As if naming everything has to be done on the same level as post office addresses, an airline baggage tag, or those scores you see in the corner of your TV screen during ball games.

SFO for San Francisco, for instance, as is used in the title of another current thread that's talking about travel to Cambria, and not from the airport. There is a difference between the Airport and the City, particularly in this instance. Ridiculous!

If three syllables are too much for one to stand for, and one thinks that in context SF may be reasonably miscontrued as Santa Fe, San Fernando or South Florida to one's readers, San Fran or even the once deplored (by San Franciscans) Frisco are clearer than SFO and only two rather than three syllables to say. Surely one can bear the burden of three or four more keystrokes now and then to make sure what one is typing makes some sense.

Even more ludicrous is the use of LAX when the intention is clearly to refer to the city and not the airport. Simple L.A. was too long?

Then there are those two capital letter state abbreviations. They were introduced by the Postal Service so their machines could read and route envelopes. They were never intended to become part of the language, and no one anticipated (or hoped) that their use in place of state names or abbreviations would become virtually mandatory in written usage. We are not sorting machines and can aim a little higher. We've got some beautiful state names and delightful abbreviations. I'd like to be able to use Mississippi or Minnesota or Cal. or Ark. without being stigmatized as a curmudgeon.

I know that in the online world, the use of those by now painfully tiresome emoticons and smileys had its novelty and was kind of fun in the way a club handshake is, but isn't it time to move on and rediscover our language? And jiving with close buds is one thing, but this is a public forum of a broad group of people of varied backgrounds,and every time somebody uses one of those cool online acronyms, a lot of people who don't know what they mean are excluded. This is not a courteous way to communicate with the wide-ranging Fodor's community, IMHO. (LMAO)

Does anyone else share some or all of these views, or want to point out something I'm not getting? Those of you who will call me a troll, tell me to get a life, to loosen my shorts, etc., I expect you, I've heard from you on other threads here, you're utterly predictable and your ridicule is totally dispensable as far as I'm concerned. But I'm not optimistic enough to think you'll let the opportunity pass to show off your witless little routines at my expense. If I'm right, I won't respond to them. After you're finished, I'll still think these issues have some importance, and thoughtful (or genuinely funny) responses pro or con, if I'm lucky enough to get any, will be the ones that matter to me.

S T S T

So true, so true.

Annoys me to no end! I think I can manage typing "are you" rather than "r u"!

OMG! I hope you feel better!

Johncharles, language is in the eye of the beholder. I've read Apgar, Tannen, Chomsky, Dillard, Baugh, Heath, and many others on language, its development, use, and meaning. In fact, I wrote my thesis on Ebonics (now don't get all riled up on me here!) This rapper talk that you refer to is directly connected to culture and, believe it or not, sustains the life of ones culture. The dominant society and social structures within society dictate norminative ways of language use and would like to see this 'language' eliminated because it is, in their eyes, an inferior form of communication compared to that of standard English. Eliminate the language however, you eliminate the culture - which many people would like to see...a mono-society.

If I read something that is posted by another person that I don't understand, I ask (mikemo knows this). Online communication takes on a whole new form of language. Whether it is desirable or not, it's just a fact.

LOL, :)
((F)) S~

A coworker recently sent mail to our code review mailer with CYPRTC; short for - can you please review this code!!! The only clue we all had was the code changes attached to the email.

I work in an industry where everything has an acronym, so who knows some day we might all use this.

However what does annoy me is the coy "can u pls rvw" aargh.

(&%$#%$%^&! !!!! get that?
I have Erbs paralysis, bad arthritis in my fingers that don;t touch keys at time. It takes me a long time to type and correct my typos so stop being so judgemental. I'll use U r many a time when Í'm feeling bad.

I have to write emails like that every day. I must condense all my motherly notes to my son in Tokyo, into two lines. So I am becoming quite adept at making the most of R U OK? and ILOVEU..

I really don't mind how people type, what words they use , as long as 1- I can understand it and 2- that it is pleasant.

So, B kind & B Happy. S~

Seetheworld, it "sustains the life of one's culture" to substitute numbers and single letters for words? If you couldn't do that, the culture would be destroyed?

Come on.

That would be a pretty shallow culture.

What you are talking about is not a culture, but an attack on another culture. As I would be doing if I started talking some deliberately degraded and senseless form of pidgin Swahili in Kenya, in an obvious effort to show contempt for the majority culture there.

Kwanzaa, for example, is an example of the positive affirmation of a non-majority culture in the U.S.

But I am not talking about members of a minority culture anyway, but members of the majority culture who are heedless of the beauty, order and dignity of their own heritage.

Cigalechanta, I am not being judgemental about typos. How can I be, when I notice I committed one in my original post, and in a sentence mentioning spelling too! I think typos are pretty easy to spot and are something quite different than what I was talking about, which is the overuse of substitutes for words in writing.

I have read many of your posts, and when I see your name I make sure to read what's beneath it, because I think you write well and interestingly.

Unfortunately, many people are still stuck in the idea that the King's English is "standard English". Well, it is standard but not in the US where we have a rich cultural melting pot.

The purpose of language is to communicate. It's a give and take thing -- one speaks, another listens. I'm not sure if you're having a hard time with the speaking or the listening.

But to answer your question, no it doesn't bother me. I think it's interesting that there is yet another improvisation of language. And I think you are the shallow one.

"In an English-speaking country, nothing is more democratic and inclusive than standard English"

So, you believe that the English Only Movement, (which is the ultimate "elitist" attitude) should be strictly enforced? You would like to reform this board, and make everyone dot their i's and cross their t's - so that you can save the English language!

PLEASE, don't do ME any favors by giving a response because I certainly wouldn't value IT. Your narrowmindedness is unappealing.

When I was in school, I was taught there was the spoken word and the written word and that the written word was much more formal. Now, having said that, this was taught to me before word processors even existed much less the internet. With the invention of the internet, the written word has become much more casual. I, for one (I wrote it out just for you), do not mind at all and at any given moment will write in short hand as well. Ever tried to text a whole message on a cell phone without using short hand? You would be punching in keys for days.

johncharles,

You must have read (and enjoyed?) "Eats shoots and leaves". I loved it. Good post, but I feel it's a hopeless cause.


http://eatsshootsandleaves.com/

... click on the "Punctuation Hall of Shame" on the website.

http://eatsshootsandleaves.com/

I'm sure for many this tempest in a T-pot is a great diversion since it does help take one's mind off that oh so booooring topic of TRAVEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Topman, I was thinking the very same thing! I've got a suitcase to pack :)

Reply to <font color="blue">johncharles</font>: &quot;something I'm not getting?&quot;

IMHO, 'nuff said ! <font color="blue">cigalechanta</font> has hit the nail on the head: some folks may not care to touch type. If you don't care for it then don't read it, no one's forcing U 2 read. :S-