IMisms slipping into the classroom

[K-Court]

I thought this article on the increasing use of IMisms in the classroom, both at the secondary and post-secondary levels, was interesting. Over the course of my career, I have seen in the workplace the deterioration in the ability of many people to write with correct English usage. I think to a degree this has been exacerbated by the common use of e-mails in the past decade or so and the informal usage that that entails. It seems that the wide usage of IM'ing has taken this to a new level.

I can't say I've seen this in the business world yet, but I'm sure it's coming as these college grads make their way into their working life. Will this new lingo become acceptable over time? Perhaps, but in the short term, I suspect the comment in the article that it will initially leave a poor impression on employers is true. I would certainly look askance at anyone who sent me a piece of writing using IM lingo. But then again, I've become an old fart clearly ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...122400909.html

[Phaedrus49er]

I had to whack a few of my students for this and spend time teaching everyone the idea of contextual language, both verbal and written. Of course, they had the most trouble with formalized writing suitable for letters and essays, but d'ems da berries.

[Blackjack]

I'm a little guilty of doing this in email or IM around the office. Using FWIW and BTW a few times.

This really isn't anything new. Anyone that works in the medical profession has been using shorthand long before text messaging when they write. Count my wife into that crowd. I've been using w/ for with as long as I can remember. It's just a different form of shorthand.

Interesting article, thanks.

[Steve-O-68]

If I read something that makes me laugh out loud, I just can't bring myself to type LOL... makes me feel... weird. I prefer aaaahahahahahahaha!!

[Lisa~]

I like the paragraphs about the teachers who are embracing it as a "teachable moment." Language is always changing. There are not absolutes in language and no point in history when language was "right" and everything that followed "wrong."

I certainly hope that students are savvy enough to learn when shorthands are appropriate and when they are not. I agree that shorthands used in formal writing are inappropriate, but in emails and text messages, as long as the message is received, then it's fine.

[K-Court]

Yes, I agree with that absolutely, Lisa. It's all about recognizing context. It's important to learn what is appropriate in a casual e-mail or IM with a friend may very well not be appropriate in a business memo. And it's just as important in the spoken language clearly. What may be appropriate in the locker room with your buds may not be at a formal dinner with your boss. I was very pleased to see that there are teachers out there training their students in this way. I was heartened by that.

[Mahler]

We are now seeing the resulting impact of a generation of IMers and e-mailers. The next wave is going to be the text messagers. It is a form of communication that requires much brevity and a condensed format.

[Lost Dog]

I dnt C dis heaps @ wrk, Xcpt 4t occasional slipup. Mostly frm d nu hires outa colleG, bt also frm a surprising # of women. Men dnt seem 2 do it as mch.

[BeachHead]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

I dnt C dis heaps @ wrk, Xcpt 4t occasional slipup. Mostly frm d nu hires outa colleG, bt also frm a surprising # of women. Men dnt seem 2 do it as mch.

Now you're just trying too hard, hah.

[LisaS]

no matter how you slice it, "prolly" is not a word and [I hope] never will be. It especially is not a word in an email or on a forum where keystrokes are not an issue. and for that matter, pewter is a word, 'puter is not.

[Phaedrus49er]

Originally Posted by LisaS

no matter how you slice it, "prolly" is not a word and [I hope] never will be. It especially is not a word in an email or on a forum where keystrokes are not an issue. and for that matter, pewter is a word, 'puter is not.

What about pooter?

[BeachHead]

I think the major problem here is the speed at which common language is changing. Just because these words are changing or brevity is becoming more important than structure, doesn't mean it is wrong, as long as the point is understood. Since things are changing so quickly, those who learned the "right" way are slightly offended for not feeling in the loop. Nobody likes change, and change this major this quickly will surely cause some people to give the knee-jerk, "You're wrong, stupid" reaction.

Who exactly sets the standard for language that is appropriate in a professional environment. What is the purpose of communication? If you understand what someone means by I'll ttyl, you have successfully communicated. I just don't see the fuss. So what, it's different....big deal.

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by BeachHead

What is the purpose of communication? If you understand what someone means by I'll ttyl, you have successfully communicated. I just don't see the fuss. So what, it's different....big deal.

Supposably...

But Bob, the CEO, just doesn't get "ttyl."

And, Susan, the decision maker at XYZ Corp, hates "thx" with a passion.

Then, you're fired!

[BeachHead]

Fine then, when they die and the people who replace them learned what those meant and used them everyday over IM, then my point will be reinforced.

[Lost Dog]

OK 4 now

[BamaDave]

Originally Posted by BeachHead

Fine then, when they die and the people who replace them learned what those meant and used them everyday over IM, then my point will be reinforced.

That's fine, but until then, people in work environments should correspond with others in lingo that both parties understand.

[JavaJunkie]

we utilize AIM at work a LOT since we're all out on different sites and when we're home we work remotely. my dad is a VP of sales and his direct reports have been using it for years, he just now decided to get AIM. I printed him up a little list of shorthand things that he would never understand such as LOL, BTW, FWIW, BRB, TTYL, etc. etc. and while he did not want to use it for a while, he now loves it and can't figure out what he did before it. what's really funny is text messaging my mom. she can't figure out how it works- and instead of typing "ok" it starts to spell out "oklahoma" and she just hits send and i get a message back saying "oklahoma". it's really funny.
as far as work is concerned, we use aim and text messaging a lot, including all of that shorthand. which really surprised me because i am by far the youngest person in the group.

[MindPower]

im obviously not cool, cause it took me a while to figure out what
IMisms meant

[Phaedrus49er]

Originally Posted by BeachHead

Who exactly sets the standard for language that is appropriate in a professional environment. What is the purpose of communication? If you understand what someone means by I'll ttyl, you have successfully communicated. I just don't see the fuss. So what, it's different....big deal.

Whoever's in charge, of course, and by the time you wait for a whole generation to kick off, you'll either have another job, be retired, and/or bellyache about how those darned kids just don't know how to communicate proper-like

As far as linguistics are concerned, there are two schools of thought: 1) prescriptive (set the rules and make sure everyone follows them), and 2) descriptive (laissez faire and just report what's happening). English as a language is already the international lowest common denominator--despite is inherent complexity and regardless of historical socio-political arguments--because of its understandability (i.e. English spoken with a heavy German accent and English spoken with a heavy Korean accent is still intelligible to anyone who knows at least broken English; can't say the same for, say, Mandarin).

Language has always evolved and will continue to do so, especially in this age of rapid global change, and it'll happen in spite of doomsday prognosticators bemoaning the loss of the "purity" of language (as if there's any such thing in the first place--here's your sign, France). As far as standardized education, teaching "proper" and contextual language usage is as much (or more) about success after school rather than maintaining some kind of linguistic "norm." As has been mentioned, there's a generational divide in language, and if you want that big, important job, you better know how to communicate effectively in the prospective boss' language as well as your own.

Now, I'm taking my language studies degrees and going home

[JoshDunn]

Originally Posted by MindPower

im obviously not cool, cause it took me a while to figure out what
IMisms meant

Some help for those not as cool.

[K-Court]

Josh, IMisms = internet messaging lingo ... like btw, fwiw, ttyl, ur, etc. etc.

[Phaedrus49er]

Originally Posted by K-Court

Josh, IMisms = internet messaging lingo ... like btw, fwiw, ttyl, ur, etc. etc.

wtf r u talkin bout?

[Paradigm]

I'm a programmer, but if I get an e-mail or IM from someone that I don't usually talk to that is an overuse of the IM shorthand, I immediately lose respect for that person. I can see the use of shorthand when writing a text message on a phone where you don't actually have a QWERTY keyboard, but other than that, I can't see how you're saving any time skipping a letter or two out of every work and you just look like an idiot. Many times I'll wonder if the person that sent me the message is really 13.

Replacing oft-used phrases isn't as bad, I don't mind BTW, FWIW, TTYL, but for some reason 'ur' really bothers me. Perhaps it's that you're only saving 2-3 letters (maybe the person doesn't know the difference between "your" and "you're" and is just playing it safe )

[ParanoidAndroid]

I've seen english teachers write "LOL" on essays...

[hard_rox]

For those of us that are out of the loop, check here for a list of IM abbreviations.

[Razorback in OK]

Originally Posted by hard_rox

For those of us that are out of the loop, check here for a list of IM abbreviations.

TU

[Phaedrus49er]

Originally Posted by Razorback in OK

TU

It's "ty" or "thx." I dunno where you learned your IMisms

[Razorback in OK]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus49er

It's "ty" or "thx." I dunno where you learned your IMisms

Sorry, but I got it from list of "Text Messaging Abbreviations" that was referenced above(http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/t...eviations.asp).

Guess I should stick with something I know about..........

[Kevin T.]

I never really understood how people wouldn't be able to differentiate from IM and school writing. I'm on AIM every night and use the lingo, but I've never once used any of it in my formal writings - never even accidentally typed it and then had to delete it. I guess I just know enough to know when to use the right language. I do use the abbreviations on AIM, in emails to friends, and occassionally on here. But, if I'm writing something to be read by somebody who is "above me" (teachers, boss, people for Scouts, etc.), I'd never use the shorthand.

My generation scares me.

[K-Court]

Originally Posted by ParanoidAndroid

I've seen english teachers write "LOL" on essays...

Regardless of the IMism issue, I would have thought no one would want to see an "LOL" on an essay .... unless it's a comedy piece!