Students use IM-lingo in essays.

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ORLANDO, Florida (AP) -- Middle school teacher Julia Austin is noticing a new generation of errors creeping into her pupils' essays. Sure, they still commit the classic blunders -- like the commonly used "ain't." But an increasing number of Austin's eighth-graders also submit classwork containing "b4," "ur," "2" and "wata" -- words that may confuse adults but are part of the teens' everyday lives. This "instant messaging-speak" or "IM-speak" emerged more than a decade ago. Used in e-mails and cell phone text messages, most teens are familiar with this tech talk and use it to flirt, plan dates and gossip. But junior high and high school teachers nationwide say they see a troubling trend: The words have become so commonplace in children's social lives that the techno spellings are finding their way into essays and other writing assignments. ... Some educators, like David Warlick, 54, of Raleigh, North Carolina, see the young burgeoning band of instant messengers as a phenomenon that should be celebrated. Teachers should credit their students with inventing a new language ideal for communicating in a high-tech world, said Warlick, who has authored three books on technology in the classroom.

This sounds weird to me. What "advantages" could there be in just using different spellings for the same old words?

Students should not be allowed to use lingo in essays. Jesus fuck, don't be so lazy and spell out the goddamn words. Oh man if I was a teacher I'd be annoyed.

Boomer, what are your thoughts.

it grey here and in the us its spelled gray
personally i think, va chier crisse d'anglais

Ohh no you diiin't!!

they're probably doing it solely because all they do is talk on the internet so when typing the word it's the first spelling that comes to mind

And it hadn't degenerated over just the past hundred years? Thanks for the news flash.

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Originally posted by Frenchie Ohh no you diiin't!!

ohhh oui j'ai did...mots est bon fils...mc solar

Everyday I hear the English language butchered down in certain parts of Miami, but it's because of latin people not knowing how to speak it properly.
I do agree however that proper grammar MUST be taught regardless, it urks the fuck out of me to see people mispell common words:
'you're vs your' - would be a perfect example.

That and Geography are my peeves...if you dont know where Guyana is...school yourself!

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles What "advantages" could there be in just using different spellings for the same old words?

Well, first, it helps break up the link between writing and etymology, which has been a problem in English for quite a long time.

Also, incorporating numbers for their phonetic values (such as "b4") shows a links to other forms of writing, such as syllabaries and ideograms.

The list could be quite long, actually.

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Originally posted by DigitalPhoenix Everyday I hear the English language butchered down in certain parts of Miami, but it's because of latin people not knowing how to speak it properly.

This "butchering" down is responsible for the evolution of a language.

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Evolution is just change over time, not necessarily good change.

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Well, first, it helps break up the link between writing and etymology, which has been a problem in English for quite a long time.

What do you mean by "link between writing and etymology," and why is it a problem? Are you referring to the fact that English is less phonetic than languages like Spanish?

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Also, incorporating numbers for their phonetic values (such as "b4") shows a links to other forms of writing, such as syllabaries and ideograms.

Why is that an advantage?

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This "instant messaging-speak" or "IM-speak" emerged more than a decade ago. Used in e-mails and cell phone text messages, most teens are familiar with this tech talk and use it to flirt, plan dates and gossip.

I love it when girls use this techno language to flirt with me

I rarely use it even on msn and such!