Comments on: More on Social Media and Language Skills http://www.socializedpr.com/moron-i-mean-more-on-social-media-and-language/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:55:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Normund http://www.socializedpr.com/moron-i-mean-more-on-social-media-and-language/#comment-3702 Normund Thu, 27 May 2010 13:42:22 +0000 http://www.socializedpr.com/?p=713#comment-3702 In your article, you mention the WOTY activity, which has become very popular. Here, in Latvia, the quest for the best (new) word of the year (and the worst word of the year as well, considering the problems faced by smaller languages, such as Latvian) has received publicity since 2003 when a similar project was launched, with the results being published at the beginning of each successive year. Like you note, all round the world we've had much the same words becoming popular for a moment, due to those Twitter-like global and national social networks. After that they've gradually lost their appeal, as the projects start to bore some of their users or new ones appear, luring them away. In Australia, the Macquarie Dictionary too publishes lists of new fashionable words. so does the OUP in the UK. I don't think any of these words form part of basic daily activities of people, whatever their nationality or location, so most of them disappear into oblivion gradually. As to the Twitter-sparkled problem of smileys and very basic English, last year we had a very alarming case of a local publishing house announcing they intended to publish a Latvian language grammar book (for school teachers, if I recall it correctly), two pages of which contained a full and detailed discussion of the most base and offensive Russian slang and taboo words. The two authors of the book explained that, by writing a chapter on this, they intended to instruct young people how not to speak, given the increasing appearance of such four-letter words in Web comments. I don't think the book was welcomed by the learned people. So, by comparison, smileys may be regarded as mere amusement. There are other things that can get worse. In your article, you mention the WOTY activity, which has become very popular. Here, in Latvia, the quest for the best (new) word of the year (and the worst word of the year as well, considering the problems faced by smaller languages, such as Latvian) has received publicity since 2003 when a similar project was launched, with the results being published at the beginning of each successive year. Like you note, all round the world we’ve had much the same words becoming popular for a moment, due to those Twitter-like global and national social networks. After that they’ve gradually lost their appeal, as the projects start to bore some of their users or new ones appear, luring them away. In Australia, the Macquarie Dictionary too publishes lists of new fashionable words. so does the OUP in the UK. I don’t think any of these words form part of basic daily activities of people, whatever their nationality or location, so most of them disappear into oblivion gradually.

As to the Twitter-sparkled problem of smileys and very basic English, last year we had a very alarming case of a local publishing house announcing they intended to publish a Latvian language grammar book (for school teachers, if I recall it correctly), two pages of which contained a full and detailed discussion of the most base and offensive Russian slang and taboo words. The two authors of the book explained that, by writing a chapter on this, they intended to instruct young people how not to speak, given the increasing appearance of such four-letter words in Web comments. I don’t think the book was welcomed by the learned people. So, by comparison, smileys may be regarded as mere amusement. There are other things that can get worse.

]]> By: Leah McChesney http://www.socializedpr.com/moron-i-mean-more-on-social-media-and-language/#comment-3264 Leah McChesney Fri, 12 Feb 2010 04:16:28 +0000 http://www.socializedpr.com/?p=713#comment-3264 I have thought a lot about this subject. I think you summed it up perfectly...work, family and friends all in the same place and there is no change over to help us separate and change modes. I think this subject warrants more discussion. I have thought a lot about this subject. I think you summed it up perfectly…work, family and friends all in the same place and there is no change over to help us separate and change modes. I think this subject warrants more discussion.

]]> By: Amanda Chapel http://www.socializedpr.com/moron-i-mean-more-on-social-media-and-language/#comment-3261 Amanda Chapel Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:29:31 +0000 http://www.socializedpr.com/?p=713#comment-3261 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_Ebonics_controversy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_Ebonics_controversy

]]> By: nuinosis http://www.socializedpr.com/moron-i-mean-more-on-social-media-and-language/#comment-3255 nuinosis Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:16:40 +0000 http://www.socializedpr.com/?p=713#comment-3255 Interesting read Joel, thank you. Interesting read Joel, thank you.

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