I disagree somewhat. Bit-tech = somewhat of an isolated activity. I don't know how many words are in my vocabulary, but I've started using quite a few new words thanks to you guys across the pond! My parents regulated me and my sister's TV/atari/computer usage. I don't think public speaking has anything to do with tech isolation.
I think it has moe to do with the fact that outside of business no one uses formal language much anymore. It's not hard to go through your life without needing these kinds of skills unless you are in those fields. I think if anything, business has to some extent become isolated from mainstream society and is blaming tech for that. EDIT: Ok, now that I've actually read the article... First off, did you see the pic with it? Second, look at who comissioned it. Tesco, trying to sell VoIP service. Obviously they would not have been as well served by a result that said "everything is fine". Also, the methodology looked at written language in the context of web postings, not spoken language as it is actually used. I think we can all agree that we speak differently than we write, especially on informal web postings such as this. In other words, I tend to question the validity of this report.
... as someone who grew up in a fairly remote and isolated enviroment i must say that i find the idea that computers would restrict someones vocabulary or mind idiotic. I know that having a computer and an internet connection as i was growing up was a very large advantage and even now 4 years out of high school i still communicate daily with people i doubt i would of ever met with out this capability.
So lemme get this straight, group A, which is half the age of group B, has half the vocabulary of group B? Hands up all those who are surprised please. Anyone who think people stop learning anything once they're out of school is an idiot. The cirriculum leaves very little to no time for actual language to be taught anymore. That happens naturally over time though I think. The idea that computers cause this or exacerbate it might have some truth in it. However that's not to say that the only thing computers do is lower peoples language ability. My ability to write and speak, as well as my vocabulary and my understanding of the structure and foundation of language has increased immensely since I started regularly posting on forums(especially serious discussion subforums). I doubt that much has really changed here compared with the 50 or 60 years. A language as deep as English is going to take time to learn strongly. I'm fine with that, I can communicate formally so I have an advantage over many other people my age. The pic is from a show called Little Britain - the person in pink is the character Vicky Pollard who has a sketch where she repeats the phrase "yeah but no but.." many many times. Probably find it on Yootube or one of those sites if you havn't seen it before.
HAHA, it looks like someone needs to go to Dr. 90210 for a . That or someone did when they were born instead of slapping the rear end. Seriosuly though, what kind of a facial expression is that??!! On another note (it's on-topic, I promise), what would the correct adjective be for those (is that what teenagers look like these days?) people. Are they chavs or no?
Not just Tesco (and not just teenagers), they may have picked up on earlier findings. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/5402896.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3549942.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/4191343.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3946009.stm I notice this on the news when members of the public are being interviewed about some dramatic event they've witnessed; the younger ones can't string a sentence together and intersperse whatever buzz-words are current at frequent intervals. The amateur nature of the internet propagates bad English; 'your' for 'you're', 'to' for 'too', have become common through erroneous repetition by readers. Read a newspaper and you'll generally see (and pick up by example) correct English. Like using a space before opening parentheses.
My guess is that half of the problem mentioned in the article stems from underexposure to good examples of English. In my experience, there's a general correlation between how much people read and how good their understanding of the language really is (although, of course, they might both be effects of some deeper cause). With the advent of various time-consuming technologies, books seem to have been outmoded - people don't seem to have time to sit down and read anything any more. Text messaging has to be short and succinct; instant messages much the same. With the ambiguity of statements like "his english was 2 bad", fine distinctions in the language become very hazy.
Rather than being debatable, I would have thought that this article states the obvious. Kids don't read, their parents don't educate them, TV encourages their ignorance, and they learn that failure to be able to communicate is not punished in schools. And then they hit the real world, and can't get a decent job.... I have a nephew who is 16. He's a bright lad, good-natured, and keeps his ears open. But he's not the best communicator. Unlike many of his peers, he generally knows how to, but he simply doesn't get any practice - no one requires him to. And if you don't practice, you won't improve - and may eventually lose your skills. IMHO the solution is to a) teach the basics in school, and b) fail the pupils who don't apply the basics correctly. Sound obvious, right? But it certainly doesn't work that way currently.
Texting on mobile phones is also a culprit. Am I the only one to still insists on using correct spelling and grammar in texts? Maybe it's just me trying to making a poor point but all this txt spk irrit8s me! (not even sure anyone would use the word irritates in text. And I whole-hearted agree with hitman012; it's not just a case of people reading less... but have you seen a lot of the books that people do read now-a-days? Even in the English in those have been dumbed down considerably. it's the direction in which out language is (unfortunately) evolving. People dumb down their writing so that a dumbed down audience can comprehend creating a vicious circle. That's where, in my opinion English literature plays an important role but even that may be in danger for being 'out of touch' with the culture of today (I think I read somewhere a while back that people were considering removing English Literature because the kids couldn't relate to it at school or something?). Even I admit to misspelling and misusing the most simplest forms of spelling/grammar at times. Not sure if it's because of old age or if it really is TIS, but one thing is for sure, at least I try and make an effort to practice proper English... a lot of other people don't bother.
J-Pepper.. you're not alone, I hate text speak and do all my texts in longhand IRC on the other hand is different I misspell all the time there but only common typos, I dont use u instead of you for example
Everything has a 'syndrome' its the perfect way for people not to take responsibility of their lives. Ive noticed that a lot of kids ive worked with do have severely limited vocabulary though this is not the fault of technology it is down to poor teaching of the English language and the lack of positive attention from adults, though saying that a fair few parents ive met make my skin craw knowing that these people are allowed to reproduce. It is not a syndrome it is the ever growing laziness for people to use their brains and develop themselves and to add we live in socities ( i live in England ) which do not value what we know it prices our appearance, our status, and our finances above all else which is fueling peoples oppsession with celebrity and more importantly as of the last few years neglecting more meaningful development in order to join the ranks of celebrity through desperate means such as entering certain reality TV shows.
I find this to be an insult to my eloquence. In fact, this undermines all that I stand for when it comes to adolescents and technology usage..
I saw a study some time back (think I posted it here too) that said that texting in fact wasn't causing a decline in language skills. In effect, people knew better, but they used txtspeek for texting because it was easier. It's easy to blame schools for not teaching "proper English", and there is no doubt a grain of truth in that, but think of how much stuff you learned in school and promptly forgot because you never used it (everything after geometry for me). I think that's part of what is going on here is that whatever they are taught is lost through not being used. Honestly, how often do you speak formally in a week? Unless you're in business, and by that I mean not customer service, probably not very often. I know that I could easily go years without needing these skills if I chose to.
When I was younger, my parents (who ordinary folk) pulled me up and my language skills frequently. Many of today's parents don't have the skills nor the inclination, and as such, their children are allowed to slip further down the evolutionary chain without a murmur.... Current children will eventually breed a generation that can simply grunt and point... Melodramatic? Perhaps... But maybe not. Anyone remember Zager & Evans - 'In the Year 2525'....?
I put it down to the droves of mindless idiots being created. If anything, technology has increased my knowledge greatly and probably my English skill.
