Children's faux pas

Re: Children's faux pas

james herriot lied — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:18:04 GMT

[quote user="Laurence Webb"]

I see interesting spellings that are phonetically correct but grammatically wrong.

[/quote]

Ouch.

Re: Children's faux pas

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:17:48 GMT

It is interesting. But I have never ever typed "definately" by mistake, even when galloping on so fast that I type gobbledygook.

You may be right about it being phonetic, because to me "definately" is not pronounced the same as "definitely".

(I never instant-message anyone.)

Re: Children's faux pas

Laurence Webb — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:10:34 GMT

Nothing does, but instant messaging is as close as you are going to get to a real life conversation using typing. Conversations in real life are not held back by people worrying that they have said 'definite' rather than 'definate'. I'd be surprised if anyone could tell the difference in a spoken conversation.

Instant messaging is throw-away conversation between two people. If you are talking to a friend then it can be similar to a pub conversation. You don't use the same formalities of speech in a pub that you do in your professional work (I don't at least). I don't correct my typing when I'm instant messaging a friend as the flow of conversation is lost.

I was observing that, as well as ignorance or just hitting the wrong keys, people make phonetically correct typos which probably show something about the way our minds work. I think it is interesting that I know how to spell a word but, when fingers work faster than my conscious mind, I see interesting spellings that are phonetically correct but grammatically wrong.

Re: Children's faux pas

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 22:36:37 GMT

[quote user="Laurence Webb"]Yes, it does result in typing definate rather than definite. It also means typing definitlie rather than definitely.[/quote]

But what stops you correcting these errors?

Re: Children's faux pas

james herriot lied — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 22:28:20 GMT

[quote user="Laurence Webb"]

Feel welcome to carry on bickering.

[/quote]

Cor, ta guvnor. You're a gent.

[quote user="Laurence Webb"]

(yes, that is an abbreviation for typographical error, you pedants)

[/quote]

I believe the correct term would be, 'you pedantists'. Sorry, but if one is correctly labelled, then one must be true.

Re: Children's faux pas

Laurence Webb — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 22:18:59 GMT

Feel welcome to carry on bickering.

[quote user="John Rimmer"] the a and the i are nowhere near each other, on my keyboard [/quote]An observation - when I use instant messaging I often find that, when typing quickly, I use phonetical typos (yes, that is an abbreviation for typographical error, you pedants) almost as often as I suffer from fat finger syndrome and just hit the wrong key.

As soon as I read what I have written I realise that it is incorrect and I don't do this when writing by hand. It isn't illiteracy but a result of my unconscious mind typing faster than my conscious mind can filter the output.

Yes, it does result in typing definate rather than definite. It also means typing definitlie rather than definitely.

Re: Children's faux pas

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:49:24 GMT

Children! Children! Play nice now!

Re: Children's faux pas

james herriot lied — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:36:23 GMT

[quote user="John Rimmer"]

I find being told I am lacking in comprehensive and social skills belittling, patronising, and discourteous, and so do expect to see JHL with his/her yellow card.

[/quote]

Leaving aside the grammatical train wreck in that sentence, would it help if I wrote you a letter of support for your campaign? I think I've still got your address:

Mr Rimmer Esq

Under the Bridge

Trollsville

Re: Children's faux pas

John Rimmer — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:12:26 GMT

To be clear, if he JHL can "see" that my school skimped on comprehensive and social skills, he must clearly be in breach of rule three:

The purpose of this rule is not to stifle genuine debate. However, do not ever post comments which are patronising, belittling, dismissive or in any other way discourteous to another member, whatever you may think of their opinion. Accept that you may have misunderstood their post, and even if you haven't, they are as entitled to their opinion as you are yours. Disagree by all means. Just do not let it become personal.

I find being told I am lacking in comprehensive and social skills belittling, patronising, and discourteous, and so do expect to see JHL with his/her yellow card.

Re: Children's faux pas

james herriot lied — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:10:31 GMT

[quote user="John Rimmer"]

I think you will find "James Herriot lied" has broached the rules you mentioned earlier and therefore deserves a yellow card Arlo.

[/quote]

Arlo, whilst you're sending the yellow card, could I also, completely incidentally, make a request for a Troll smiley?

Re: Children's faux pas

John Rimmer — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:05:33 GMT

I think you will find "James Herriot lied" has broached the rules you mentioned earlier and therefore deserves a yellow card Arlo.

Re: Children's faux pas

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:04:11 GMT

I find I know how to spell most words in my (albeit limited) vocabulary without thinking. But there are some that I need to think about. Ophthalmologist is one. I can quite understand how my hastily written opthalmologist is someone else's definately, and completely disagree with you that haste is not an important factor in poor spelling.

Re: Children's faux pas

james herriot lied — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:55:25 GMT

[quote user="John Rimmer"]

Well why bother sending the to school at all? Kids learn how to write and add up on their own so teach them instead about morals? Never heard so much rubbish in my life.

[/quote]

Ah, I see that at your school they concentrated on spelling and grammar, but inexplicably skimped on the comprehension and social skills. Quel dommage.

Re: Children's faux pas

John Rimmer — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:51:23 GMT

Yeah, I don't buy it. We do indeed all make mistakes from typing quickly. But a mistake made through typing quickly doesn't mean typing "definate" instead of "definite" - the a and the i are nowhere near each other, on my keyboard at any rate. Likewise mistake/misteak, you cheeky scamp. Posts on internet forums are indeed a good measure of literacy. IMHO.

Re: Children's faux pas

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:01:19 GMT

[quote user="John Rimmer"]It's en excuse Evelyn. One doesn't forget how to spell because one is on an internet forum. [/quote]

No, but the hurried nature of the medium lends itself to misteaks.

In the days of quill and ink, you'd be damned sure what you were going to write, and how it was spelt, before committing to parchment. Less so after the invention of Tippex, and even less so in the digital age. I'm always making mistakes. I don't usually discover them unless I happen to reread a post I've written, sometimes days later.

My career has largely revolved around the written word. I hate poor spelling and bad grammar (especially when I am responsible for it). But I think one needs to make allowances based on how hurriedly the author may have written. In other words, I would expect the author of a newspaper article, or an instruction manual, or a peace treaty to have spent considerably more time checking than the author of a forum post.

Re: Children's faux pas

Lorna McHardy — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:58:32 GMT

[quote user="Niall Taylor"]

The Supasnaps thing is about copyright as much as language. You can copyright the name "Supasnaps", but not "Super Snaps" as those words are part of the language.

[/quote]

I hadn't thought of that aspect. It still makes me cringe :0)

[quote user="Niall Taylor"]

Interesting to note though that some text-speak is creeping into the language - LOL in particular is now used as an actual spoken word - fascinating the way language develops (IMHO)!

[/quote]

I agree! And let us not get started on the smileys controversy, or somebody might blow an artery....

Re: Children's faux pas

John Rimmer — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:30:01 GMT

It's en excuse Evelyn. One doesn't forget how to spell because one is on an internet forum.

Re: Children's faux pas

Niall Taylor — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:17:52 GMT

[quote user="Lorna McHardy"] internet and text language... makes me cringe. As, by the way, does... the use of illiteracy in order to be different in adverts (Supasnaps, that kind of thing)[/quote]

The Supasnaps thing is about copyright as much as language. You can copyright the name "Supasnaps", but not "Super Snaps" as those words are part of the language.

I agree about the internet and text language thing - at least with texts there is some rationale to having language abbreviated because of ease of character input and keeping down the expense but when I see it used extensively in emails it makes me almost physically ill - like listening to a conversation between 2 chimps!

Interesting to note though that some text-speak is creeping into the language - LOL in particular is now used as an actual spoken word - fascinating the way language develops (IMHO)!

Niall

Re: Children's faux pas

bob lehner — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:04:09 GMT

Still on the subject of little boys and balls -

Years ago I took my two young sons to the Natural History Museum in the Zoology Dept at Cambridge. We were in the insect department loooking at the usual array of butterflies and moths pinned out in regimented lines within glass-topped cases. In the corner of each display case was a saucer, which contained a number of white spherical objects about 1 cm in diameter. 'What are those ?' asks younger son (aged about 6). Taking the strong smell of naphtha as a clue I replied 'They're mothballs'. To which he replies ' Goodness - don't moths have huge balls'.

Re: Children's faux pas

Lorna McHardy — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:45:41 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]No - it shows that people typing on an internet forum don't worry about it. Generally.[/quote]

But why don't they?

This has always puzzled me.

[/quote]

I see it as the equivalent of style switching in conversation. You'd be a lot less formal down the pub than you would addressing an audience with a lecture on dental extractions in GSDs, for instance.

Up to a point, I agree with you... internet and text language that leaves out the majority of vowels and uses 'U' instead of 'you' and so forth makes me cringe. As, by the way, does the phrase 'wellness' in any context, the use of 'K9' in veterinary notes, and the use of illiteracy in order to be different in adverts (Supasnaps, that kind of thing). But I'm still going to be a little less pernickety about how I phrase things in an internet forum than I might be in a more formal context.

Re: Children's faux pas

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:38:40 GMT

[quote user="Alice Courtney"]Just as I was figuring out how to reply, my husband jumps in, saying 'He's having his balls cut off'.[/quote]

Typical ****ing husband. Probably thought it was funny.

Re: Children's faux pas

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:36:18 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]No - it shows that people typing on an internet forum don't worry about it. Generally.[/quote]

But why don't they?

This has always puzzled me.

Re: Children's faux pas

Alice Courtney — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:59:19 GMT

Being contraversial and going back to OP's topic, as I preferred the light-hearted start...

During a post-castration checkup, the owner said:

"My son asked where Scooby was on the day he was castrated. I told him Scooby was at the vets having an operation. He asked why he was having an operation. Just as I was figuring out how to reply, my husband jumps in, saying 'He's having his balls cut off'. Son asks 'Well, how will he walk after that?', to which I replied 'Well, he'll be a bit sore, I guess'. Son replies, 'But, how will he walk, with no paws?'"

Perhaps funniest first time round, and punctuation is likely to be incorrect, but in this instance I hope you'll forgive me. I was taught grammar at school, I just wasn't particularly good at it.

Re: Children's faux pas

John Rimmer — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:49:32 GMT

No, not a troll. In fact, I agree with you re parents Gillian,

I just disagree with the new age twaddle about SPAG being unimportant.

Also, to be clear, I am not homophobic nor prejudiced in any way. Each to their own in my book. I just don't think kids need to know about it, I was quite happy not knowing about sex till I was in high school. Knowing about any kind of sexual preferences would have given me nightmares I should think.

Re: Children's faux pas

Gillian Mostyn — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:44:42 GMT

[quote user="John Rimmer"]A lot of the spelling, punctuation and grammar on these forums would suggest that such skills do NOT develop naturally and should indeed be taught. [/quote]

No - it shows that people typing on an internet forum don't worry about it. Generally.

You're sounding a lot like a troll at the moment.......