A plea for full words

[smercurio_fc]

I was the one who actually mentioned "ain't" as a self-criticism based on the premise of my post. That was not intended to be an example of what I was talking about. All I was talking about was the tendency of some folks to use text-message forms of words that a lot of people simply don't know. As has been pointed out, many people on these forums do not use English as their native languate, and so do not understand this. English is hard enough as it is. Do we really need to make their life harder?

[craigc]

Sorry Smercurio i meant no offence, it was just my mind taking a tangent! i was just pondering about the word ain't.  I agree English is difficult as it is (I would of failed if it were not for all those detentions!) and i agree with what you were saying on this thread.  Was just wondering off topic slightly again just trying to expand a little on what the topic was initially about.  I am already guilty of that! ooops.

[smercurio_fc]

I didn't take offense at all. I was just clarifying that I was the one who originally mentioned ain't, in response to your statement "someone mentioned ain't at the start of the thread". That's all.

As I've noted, my issue (and it' not just mine, as based on the responses in this thread, the majority agree with me) is that some people (they know who they are), insist on using one-letter replacements for words. Even for those who know English fluently you actually have to slow down to interpret what's been written.

Regardless, my soapbox is done. Whether or not it's taken as a nitpick, or as something that will help to make these forums seem less like "chat sessions" and keep their professional appearance remains to be seen.

[StevenA]

Thanks smercurio, I'm jumping in a little late on this thread (been out for few weeks) but I had been thinking of this as well.  Thanks for the good discussion and I hope we can continue to keep the content on these forums professional.  I try to contribute to the spanish forums from time to time, and when the posts are well written, it makes it so much easier for me as a second language participant.

[RavensFan]

First, a reply to get this bumped up again and maybe some people will see it again, read it, and follow it.  It seems like the text message people just keep insisting on using mindless abbreviations.

But one thing I've noticed more and more is that the same people don't know how to use punctuation.  The people doing text speak don't bother putting any spaces after their periods at the end of sentences, and don't bother capitalizing words such as "I".  Here is a recent example, certainly not the worst example I've seen.  It makes things look like one long run on sentence even when it's not and just that much more difficult to read.

[JeffOverton]

ravensfan, ur just jealous b/c u don;t get the new way of talkin.u relly need 2 follow the times.

But to the point, I agree with you, and find it commendable that there is a space in "Ravens Fan."

Message Edited by JeffOverton on 02-18-2010 04:35 PM

[Yamaeda]

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JeffOverton wrote:

Haha, getting back on track here, are these people posting from their cell phones?  How much longer does it take to type "you" than "u"?

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Based on some people at work ... about 10 seconds. (those hovering their index fingers over the keyboard scanning for each letter) /Y

[ian_fung]

LabVIEW for Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench 

[hecmar.arreola]

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JeffOverton wrote:

For the record, I still maintain that "ain't" isn't a word.  The apostrophe means it's a negative contraction, so what are the two words?

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I agree with the original post, a forum like this should not be using highly abbreviated words to form sentences with.

But, this whole what is a word and what isn't a word isn't something that is decided by...well...anyone.  Even the Oxford Dictionary doesn't decide what is a word and what isn't a word, they merely try and play catch up with the rest of us by recording these new developments in language down and publishing them in the form of a Dictionary.  If a word is understood then it is a word whether you like the word or not.

[smercurio_fc]

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Nickerbocker wrote:

But, this whole what is a word and what isn't a word isn't something that is decided by...well...anyone.

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I'd argue (quite effectively, and without needing Oxford) that 4 isn't a word, yet people use it to imply "for". There's a difference between new words like "truthiness" and the use of phonetics to imply words.