A trend that does not surprise me and a related rant

In an AP story by Jim Ellis posted Wednesday on Yahoo! News we learn that teachers are beginning to see a whole new type of spelling error: The computer/IM/text message abbreviation. The article reports that an increasing number of Orlando, Florida middle school teacher Julia Austin's students are turning in papers using 'words' like "b4," "ur," "2" and "wata" -- words, the article suggests, which "may confuse adults but are part of the teens' everyday lives."

According to Ellis' article, one of Ms. Austin's students, 14 year old Brandi Concepcion, acknowledged that "wit, da and dat — used in place of with, the and that — sometimes creep into her homework." She says she uses these shortcuts in her rough draft -- but tries to "catch" the errors before they creep into her final paper. My Long Suffering Spouse is a teacher; she has had experiences similar to those of Ms. Austin. So when the AP says there's a trend, in this instance, at least, I am inclined to agree.

Other teachers are not so quick to condemn IM-speak: Ellis' article cites David Warlick, 54, of Raleigh, N.C., as suggesting that this trend should instead be celebrated. Warlick has written three books on technology in the classroom -- presumably without using "wit, da and dat" -- but says teachers should credit their students with inventing "a new language ideal for communicating in a high-tech world."

I respectfully dissent.

I use IM's. These provide a very handy way to stay in touch with kids in college. I read the kids' away messages and learn a lot about how they're doing. Of course, the away messages are usually for their peers, not for me -- but too bad for them. And when the kids are on line, I will "talk" to them using IM's. My kids laugh at me because I use complete sentences in IM conversations. But I'm not trying to be funny (necessarily) when I send them IM's. I am merely trying to communicate effectively and accurately.

Anyone reading this blog will be familiar with IM-speak. Many of you sometimes or even regularly use abbreviations or emoticons (those are the smiley faces) in your comments.

You may have noticed that I don't.

It's not that these are bad things: Emoticons are particularly useful. In conversation how words are said are often as important as what words are said. Depending on how they're said, the same words can convey devastating insult or deep affection. It's the tone of voice or the twinkle in the eye or the underlying warm chuckle that helps us evaluate whether to respond to the speaker with an appreciative laugh... or a punch in the nose. And since we can't reproduce those things here -- and plain text can be misleading -- emoticons are used. Sometimes I write stage directions to try and better convey my meaning -- to show I'm not really being mean-spirited.

I am more troubled by the abbreviations so many of us use here in the Blogosphere. It's not that I object to your leaving comments with abbreviations. I'm very needy and will take almost any comment. And, besides, I know what you mean when you leave an abbreviation. Or I think I do. I just don't think that these abbreviations are really very accurate.

It's late Friday now. But on Monday, when you go to work, take the Curmudgeon challenge: Let's find out together how accurate these abbreviations are. When you do your normal blogging routine and you are inclined to leave a comment "LOL," be sure to really laugh out loud. Laugh so the folks can hear you in the adjacent cubicles.

(Heads will being to peer tentatively over the tops of your neighbors' work spaces as you do this. But do not let that stop you. Continue on.)

Now you've found a really funny post. I wish you'd find it here -- but you're probably somewhere else at this point. No matter. You would write "LMAO" in response in the ordinary course. Do so now -- and also really laugh your a** off.

Well, don't physically injure yourself. You have to sit down on something after all. But give out a big, sustained belly laugh for all to hear.

(The heads that had begun to peer tentatively over the tops of your neighbors' work spaces, or around the corner of your office door, may quickly withdraw. You may hear some excited whispering in the background. But we are doing an experiment here, people. Do not be deterred by the buzzing of the Philistines. Keep going.)

Now you've found a truly funny blog. A picture, a story, something that really tickles you. What would you write in this circumstance? Of course! Go ahead and write "ROTFL."

Now do it.

Go on: Roll on the floor and laugh and laugh and laugh.

And, when you get email privileges at the home, drop me a line and let me know how you're doing.