Whats up with the English language? Why do so few people know how to spell or write out a complete sentence?

Question

Do they even teach English in US schools anymore?

Oops! Thank you for pointing out my typo. "What's" Thanks.

Answer 1

The information age has generally made people lazy. It is more convenient to search the web, or use the grammar and spell checker than to use the old fashioned encyclopedia, dictionary or thesaurus. Humans by nature take the easy route. Only a small percentage will take a challenge to scale the wall in front of them. Many decide to go around. Sadly books have gone to the way side in place of television or video games further crippling the ability for correct usage of the English language. I would recommend that for those who are truly interested in correct grammar, learn Latin, as it is the base for the English language.

Answer 2

Reading, Writing, "R"hythmatics as basics of overall knowledge have been replaced with some great and some poor choices in public and private education. Sciences, Arts, History and Computer Science are very important...but our teachers are exoected to also teach skills which should be learned at home, e.g. Managing Money, Cooking, Teen Life-Family Management, etc. In an ideal world, education would be tailored to the needs of each student rather than the needs of the majority. Our 'top and bottom' learners are being dismissed because they either 'don't need the help' or are considered 'below help".

I'm not a teacher, but a mom of two really bright kids...both had/have to be encouraged to explore their interests and their histories, which of course leads to further exploration. Both kids, girl 28 and boy 14 are attractive and sociable. Both volunteer. Both have played crossword competitions with me and each, since very young, and still email questions they 'can't' solve to Mom.
She tested at above average levels, is a veterinary assistant (after graduating 4 1/2 years - graphic arts and computer sciences. He has tested at "genius" levels since age three. He was slow to talk, why not when pointing makes Mom jump up...liked all sports , for about a week...can PS2 17 hours with only bathroom/food breaks, sometimes combined to save time. Both were given a lot of attention by two hard working parents who appreciate the benefits of a good education.

Do you remember your favorite teacher? Why was she your favorite...because she let you slide or because she helped you to learn how the slide worked?

Answer 3

Part of the problem is that our media culture has become more image-based, so we are not encouraged to read. Newspapers are great but really most people get their news from the television. What's worse is that what little people do read in the media is written at the level of a fourth grader to make it more accessible to everyone. Obviously this is a problem. Another reason, or maybe just an extension of the first, is that in general people are just not that familiar with the English language. They don't read, they don't write and nor are they encouraged to. And so when they have problems communicating with others they wonder why. The only way to get better at reading and writing is to read and write. And this of course brings us to another problem which stems from our mass media culture: attention span. We get so much information thrown at us everyday (and 99% we don't need) at such high speeds that when we actually take the time to slow down and read a book it is much more difficult. But of course the more we read the better our concentration will become.

Answer 4

How can anyone know how to spell or write correctly these days when everything is purposely being spelled wrong? Look at song lyrics. Especially Rap. They are so busy trying to be cool and different they write things like "U" instead of the word "you". And "Wuz Up" instead of "What's Up". Our children see more of that and are influenced by that than they are with there school work. And personally in my children's school their teachers are as dumb as dirt. Their school had such a low over-all grade rating that they removed the principle. Now come on, maybe some students might not be trying but the entire school. Who do you blame, the students for not learning or the teachers for not teaching correctly?

Answer 5

It's not that a smaller percentage of people know how to spell or craft a complete sentence, it's that those who do not have greater access to your attention. Also, in a place like this, I'm not as likely to have another proofread my work (not likely at all, as a matter of fact) before I hit "submit." Nor are you, as your typo shows. (It is almost guaranteed that if you complain about poor language in an online forum, there will be an error in your complaint!)

I'm sure that signs in stores have always said "great prices everyday" or "every day great prices." That bugged me years and years ago. Shopkeepers do their best, but writing is simply not the most important skill of their trade.

I can't spell, but I don't think that e-dictionaries or spellcheckers make my writing worse; they improve it. Nor do I believe that I read less because of the information superhighway, I think I read more. And, if I choose what I read carefully, and I do, I read well-written things.

So, my quick answer would be "They don't." But I'm not known for quick answers.

Answer 6

I'm just sorry my hard work earned money is going to taxes for schools...nowadays these kids have no respect, they are growing up way to fast and don't deserve it, and also something That I don't understand and am going to get off topic, back when I was in school they didin't close down the school for a day or two just because a few snow flurries or raindrops fell but now god forbid theres some rain or snow "no class for today" there not teaching kids to get up and go to school regardless of the situation thats why these kids are so dam dumb ...so I guess when the kids from today grow up and have a job there not going to go to work on a rainy or stormy day because thats what they got taught and to them its going to be okay I guess unemployment is never going to go down. How can they learn ANYTHING when half the school year there out of school for pety issues.

Answer 7

Its called public school! Its about not teaching
the kids the correct way to do things its how
we make them feel.Lets do math instead
Johnny whats 2+2. The kid gives the answer
five. Instead of making the kid feel bad in front
of all the other students the teacher says thats
right.When will he ever learn the correct answer? Maybe never ! Of course the teacher
may never know the right answer either! So
lets send all the kids home with a parting gift
a video game to play instead of homework.

Answer 8

The English language... nothing's wrong with it except that it's extremely complex compared to most languages, like Spanish. There's no "I before E except after C" rule or any other rule like that in many other languages as far as I know.

Well, think about it. There's probably more people combined in cultures where English isn't traditional versus where English is.

Answer 9

With today being a computer age, people are so dependent on spell check that they don't need to spell. Not to mention all the abbreviations that everyone uses for everything. We have become the age of the short cut-lazy way of doing everything

Answer 10

This is the age of "as fast as possible'. Instant messaging and text messages have replaced the handwritten letter and the need for proper grammar. In the mad rush of today's society we have become lazy and to an extent unsociable and the telltale signs are prevalent in every facet of our daily grind. College students zoning out with their Ipod, teenagers glued to their X boxes and Playstations, strangers barely acknowledging each other. I could go on and on but I really need to go shave my penguins. Peace