The English language and its demise?

Question

What is going on in the world? Its there anyone left out there who can spell or manage to type a cohesive sentence?
Or anyone who knows the right occasion in which to use "their", "there" or "they're"? I was taught this at infant school and yet there are adults who can't make this simple differentiation.
This trend for txt spk is not only appalling but is killing our language. You have a vocabulary. Use it!

An interesting cross section of opinions indeed. However, I should have elucidated that its the inherent beauty of the written word that is being diminished.

Or should I say..
Gud ideaz. I ment itz gtng dullr.

Answer 1

the number of people who can read and write english (as opposed to merely speak it) has never been higher in the history of the language.

a century ago, or even fifty years, the kind of people who make mistakes over there / they're / their didn't have that problem, because they couldn't read or write at all.

these days such people can write, and you are able to look down on them because they have a lower level of literacy from yours.

if we ever met i would be able to look down on your level of literacy in much the same way.

Answer 2

No demise, just change - the same way it has been changing for centuries. The thing is that their, there and they're are only graphically different, they're spoken more or less the same and context will always allow you to understand what is meant. So there's actually no use for it, it will become archaic and one way of spelling for all three words will emerge.

You will not control language, it will evolve to suit those who use it. A world in which we are asked to process more and more information on a daily basis will require a more efficient written language. As ugly and objectionable as txt speak is, it fits that bill perfectly.

A language is actually considered demised when it STOPS changing. Embrace the change!

Answer 3

First of all English is a living language. A living language is 'per se' subject to change.
Your vocabulary is made up of words you use regularly, words you use infrequently and word you understand, but never use.
The problem with there, their, they're, is a grammatical problem.
When teaching English to intermediate non-native speakers, I dictate the following: "Yes, they're at home. Look, that's their car, over there."
I sympathise with you. Imagine how difficult it is to teach English as a foreign language, when your students are confronted with astounding errors every day.
The current slogan for MacDonalds here in Switzerland is 'I'm loving it,' which might be grammatically correct, but doesn't actually make sense.

Answer 4

I hate the text speak, except when I am actually sending a text message. It drives me nuts when people can't spell things correctly because they're too lazy. I don't know if it's the English teacher in me or what, but I've always been a good speller.

Answer 5

yo blud clat, ima glad u mntiond dis topic cos i bin tinkin bou it mysel. dis kinda wrytin is so cool man ! evn tho i study englsh lang i tink dat wrytin lyk dis is an art. cos it meks us al diffrent and we al dnt seem monotonic. spking n wrytn in stndrd forms teks away our individuality and meks us all sound da same and is qwite borin!

But, prior to your point, i agree with you that our herited english langauge should not alter as it is our mother tongue. I believe that much alterations to the language have been caused due to english becoming an international langauge, this allows different accents and dialects to be engraved, which therefore alters our traditional form of english.

Answer 6

Hmm, thank you for your rant, I assume that, in amongst the dross, you will find at least some people who come up to your standards.
Bear in mind this site is accessible to everyone regardless of education so if you run up against someone whose standard of grammar is lower than yours perhaps you should be a little less stressed?

Answer 7

i totally agree! also there are those out there who substitute th with v e.g wiv instead of with! what's wrong with people, why are they not willing to speak our language correctly, there has always been differences in speech due to our various dialects, but still!!

Answer 8

derrr, thonk duz eye 'gree wiv u on that won maytey. dunno no y folkerz r keep duing fings like this. take eye pride in the english lingon. Gr8 2 c sum1's taking an intrest

Answer 9

Latest casualty is the "or" in deteriorate; it seems to have vanished without trace.

Answer 10

To me, if you can't spell, then you're illiterate.