What happened to normal spelling?

Question

I understand that there are many participants on yahoo answers whose first language isn't English and whose spelling is understandably incorrect. However, there are also many others who seem not to care, and just spell things the way they want to, and use abbreviations for everything ("cuz" for because, etc.) to the point where their writing is indecipherable. Why is this?

Answer 1

I agree.

But let's look at the history of spelling as well. The very idea that there is a 'proper' way to spell is a very new idea, indeed. There are documents less than 100 years old where the same word is spelled different ways within that document.

Or we could look at someone who is thought of as a master of language: William Shakespeare - a guy who signed his own name with various spellings.

I know this may not answer your question directly, but I do think the historical context is important.

OK, now to the MAIN point.

The part of your question where you say "spell things the way they want to, and use abbreviations for everything ("cuz" for because, etc.) to the point where their writing is indecipherable. Why is this?"

Using a few common 'net abbreviations here and there is okay, but when it does become indecipherable, then it is pointless.

WHY make a point if nobody is going to understand it. And no, you don't look cool because you know the latest abbreviations (or 'leet speak' or whatever it is called), you just look like you're trying to hard to be cool.

So, that's the difference. Historically when there were 'misspellings' people still cared if there points and ideas were being conveyed. Whereas today, many people want to look as though they are on the 'cutting edge' of language with a disregard of whether or not there point is being conveyed.

Answer 2

In this high tech world of hurry up and go there is not time to actually type the entire word. It is so time consuming to type the word. Also our kids are being raised in an age of text messages and that is more important that getting an education and actually learning how to spell the words correctly. Do you know how much time I could have saved if I would have shortened the words in this repsonse? Probably close to 3 whole seconds!

Answer 3

There are a lot of lazy people out there. It annoys me sometimes too when they get on the Internet and spell like they're in the
second grade.

Answer 4

It's pure laziness. People are out to score points therefore making shortcuts so that they can answer quicker and move on to the next question.

Answer 5

Because it's quicker. The point of typing is to be fast. Get the job done. And internet typing, such as this or IM'ing, is informal, so abbreviations are acceptable. If you can't decipher it, you are not up on your internet lingo. Do some homework. It's the technology age.

Answer 6

Because they're lazy or just very slow at typing and impatient or they might even think it looks cool...

Answer 7

Amen sister, I had the same conversation with my composition professor, who has noticed this also to his dismay...

Answer 8

I don't really get it either, and it really bothers me too. Maybe it's some sort of rebellious adolescent thing.

Answer 9

because it is easier since it takes less time . and the most common reason is because they are lazy.

Answer 10

cuz we dont feel like typing out the whole thing with punctuation and such....or ppl are just too stupid to do it.