Task: Determine a hypothesis and use it to head a new entry on your blog.
Is text language ruining the English language? English has been spoken for more than 80,000 years but over the course of the last 1000 years, it is developing constantly, with new words and expressions being developed to replace particular words. With texting, we have created new words and developed them into new meanings, then making them into short abbreviations. For example, the abbreviation “lol” used to mean lots of love. Now, in our day it age it means “laugh out loud”. Are small things like these ruining the English language?
As shown above, when used out of context, the term ‘lol’ can come across in the wrong way, more so for adults who have not come across the ‘new’ meaning. The most common example would be:
Mum: G-ma has just gone into hospital. Not sure if it is serious yet. See you soon. Lol.
Text language has modernised the English language. Here in New Zealand, in an NCEA English exam, text abbreviations have been approved as long as the marker can see that the required paper “clearly shows the required understanding” . Mr Bali Haque, who is the deputy chief executive of NZQA said, “Students should aim to make their answers as clear as possible. Markers involved in assessing NCEA exams are trained professionals, experienced in interpreting the variety of writing styles and language uses encountered during the marking process,”. This clearly shows how much text abbreviations are preferred. While writing in text abbreviations are not recommended in exams, it depends on how the students choose to write. Whether they think it is helpful- a time saver, or could portray that the student is lazy or sloppy in their writing.
(Not finished)
What do you have done is very good.
You definitely should continue with this so that you have the final draft to come back to when we return to formal writing later in the year.
I think my second paragraph doesn’t have enough information, and I am a bit stuck. How would I take it further?
I’d be very happy to work with you on this. You’re doing well at making meaningful observations about the language effects you’re identifying, but you’re not analysing the language effects themselves.
I wonder if looking at my examples on line of how to write these paragraphs might help:
There’s an example of an analysis paragraph and a simpler version.