Linguistic Purity
I read an article today that said a group is pushing for the phonetic spelling of words in the English language. It wuud maek spelling eezeeur and redoos illiturasee raets, thay say.
To this, I have to say, it will not make children and adults smarter, it will make them lazier. Spellings would suddenly vary widely according to the will of the writer. Reading would become more difficult, like deciphering a code or trying to read another language entirely.
There must be proper form in order to standardize language. Several years ago I got into an argument with an English professor who believed that we should expand the dictionary to include ebonics. Although it is a now-recognized dialect, I don't believe we need to make inclusions for any dialect--or for slang, for that matter. It's enough that these words have become part of our vernacular; they are widely understood as it is. I will probably piss people off if I say this, but, if we validate language that is simply made up and is, to some extent, a product of laziness, we are contributing to the denigration of the English language. Would we be able to address anyone in a proper manner, with respect? For example, if everyone spoke jive, would that be the language in which we addressed esteemed leaders, distinguished individuals--say, the prophet, or even God?
The more we include in our dictionaries the more we change a language. There are reasons for which we have Standard English (of the newscaster variety). Throughout China, three different dialects are spoken. However, their characters that they write with hold the same meanings throughout in order to be understood. This is why we must preserve proper English: so that no matter where you are in the country, you will be understood.
Or maybe I am just a pretentious English elitist and am dead wrong. This subject is open for debate.
To this, I have to say, it will not make children and adults smarter, it will make them lazier. Spellings would suddenly vary widely according to the will of the writer. Reading would become more difficult, like deciphering a code or trying to read another language entirely.
There must be proper form in order to standardize language. Several years ago I got into an argument with an English professor who believed that we should expand the dictionary to include ebonics. Although it is a now-recognized dialect, I don't believe we need to make inclusions for any dialect--or for slang, for that matter. It's enough that these words have become part of our vernacular; they are widely understood as it is. I will probably piss people off if I say this, but, if we validate language that is simply made up and is, to some extent, a product of laziness, we are contributing to the denigration of the English language. Would we be able to address anyone in a proper manner, with respect? For example, if everyone spoke jive, would that be the language in which we addressed esteemed leaders, distinguished individuals--say, the prophet, or even God?
The more we include in our dictionaries the more we change a language. There are reasons for which we have Standard English (of the newscaster variety). Throughout China, three different dialects are spoken. However, their characters that they write with hold the same meanings throughout in order to be understood. This is why we must preserve proper English: so that no matter where you are in the country, you will be understood.
Or maybe I am just a pretentious English elitist and am dead wrong. This subject is open for debate.
posted by Anonymous at 7/05/2006 01:11:00 PM
5 Comments:
thaz strait up wack!!!
Wait, what did Jake say? I believe Websters has the spelling of the word strait as sk-rai-t. The k is included but often over looked, and silent most times. I am the leading authority on Ebonics in this blog-o-sphere.
It's funny that most of the words are already included in the new dictionaries. It's become a sort of make-up-your-own competition. In fact last year they had one to see what word they could add. I think it was ginormous that won. I'm not for sure but it was some word like that. At any rate it's a funny word and a lot of people say it, but are any of us going to use that in a formal writing or conversation? But it's in the dictionary! I'd like to see someone slide that on a college app. or in a resume. I'm out
I'm for it! You pick which side. I'm for it!
We should petition to get chewmongous in there.
As in: That rice krispie is chewmongous
I love it.
Maybe it will happen, cause I know grandma approves!
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