talkmagic.co.uk

It is quite true that Americans spell things wrongly and Canadians spell things correctly. Canada is still part of the British Empire and because of this knows how to spell.

America should really come under British rule once again and learn to spell correctly.

You didn't realize it, because it isn't true. While certain people and establishments use "nite" - it is not the standard (at least not where I live).

It is not an abbreviation, either. It's a slang term, and nothing more. I have used the same spelling as mentioned above (I have used colour, labour, etc.), and have met very little criticism for it. Before certain people come into this discussion and take the opportunity to take a few generalized swipes at Americans (too late), please try to keep such comments in perspective.

We all have spelling errors and typos from time to time. In a casual environment such as this, they're inevitable. Having said that, we should all try to be mindful of the fact that other people are reading what we are typing. I'm not saying you have to spell check everything you type, but at least make sure others can understand it.

In the case of members who don't speak English as a primary language, I believe we are all understanding, rational people who can look past such things. Unlike Lady of Mystery, I've never heard of anyone who has left this forum due to attacks on their spelling and grammar. If that's actually true, I'm sorry to hear that (unless they're text speak or leet speak people - they can go).

Crispy - no one is talking about the struggles of clearly expressing a point. No, not everyone has the gift of language. However, that hardly excuses the people who can't string together a coherent sentence. Having a problem with language doesn't mean you can't communicate.

Carlos75 wrote:The worrying thing is this is how languages, especially the written word, evolve.

Within 25 years txt spk will be the socially acceptable way to write.

Please don't give me that cop out. I've heard that excuse since some idiot a bit over a decade ago, introduced Ebonics into the California School system. The reality is it is an excuse for people that simply want things their way and not conform to how society functions.

The "Evolution" of language is more akin to how American English differs from what you find in the UK or how Spanish is so diverse when you compare it to what is spoken in Mexico vs. Spain or parts of South America, etc.

As to people not having a "choice" in mis-spelling... I get a little red line under the words I mis-spell and little green lines (most of the time) that correct the language or sentence structure.

As I said, some folks are dealing with English as a second language while others have psychological or legit medical issues they are dealing with. I have a friend that can tell when I'm not doing well based on how I structure my posts and how many type-os, etc. show up and go unchecked.

When I see someone in their 30s (supposedly) spelling the word "SUPER" Soopper or some variant their of, then I must call it as I see it and in this case, I'd say we're dealing with a lazy American bum (in that the example I'm pulling form happens to be from the States).

Text Speak, within reason, has become part of the Internet world we are in. What young people tend to forget however, is that many of us in these forums have never sent or used a Text Message system let alone learnt said language e.g. we do not understand some of the initials and concepts some attempt to get across via this method. I know that if you were to attempt to talk to the talent buyer of a major company in such a manner chances are strong you wont get the job and if you do, you'll be seen as a second rate talent... someone that does not care about how people see them and in so doing, refuses to recognize how they are slashing their own wrists with said arrogance.

There's a young man out of the Chicago area that fulfills this very image, not realizing that most agents will never toss him more than $500.00 per gig bones vs. the $5,000.00 a shot gigs the people he is talking down to and bad about are getting from the very same agency.

If what I've said don't inspire you to consider how you speak and represent yourself maybe the dollar & sense (and that's not a type-o) side of the issue will...

Typos and the odd spelling error are to be expected of anyone, but it's the text speak and laziness which will degenerate the forum into a chavs playground which is why one of the rules is not to use this kind of 'language'.

Posts like: " wazzup. dat cris angle dude is wkd. how u do dat flyying thing he duz?"

are not the sort of things I really want to read or give my time up for, also posts that make no sense whatsoever.
If I joined a forum in a language I hardly knew and posted things that made no sense whatsoever, I would expect short shrift.

It's funny how if a 16 year old Ellusionist fan posts a load of nonsense, every one shouts "Sin bin!", but if they are a "professional magician" a lot of toadying goes on and they are excused.

Yes, I'm a grumpy old man and I'm rather worried as I'm finding many of Mr Lewis' posts hilarious these days....

I think there's a completely simple answer to this problem if you can't understand something or are finding something hard to read surely the logical answer would be not to reply because if you can't understand a post whether the poster has written something that you can't understand or if the writter has written it fine but you can't understand surely it wouldn't be your concern because you cannot understand it so why reply it's pretty pointless and doesen't achieve anything.

lindz wrote:I think there's a completely simple answer to this problem if you can't understand something or are finding something hard to read surely the logical answer would be not to reply because if you can't understand a post whether the poster has written something that you can't understand or if the writter has written it fine but you can't understand surely it wouldn't be your concern because you cannot understand it so why reply it's pretty pointless and doesen't achieve anything.

What choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?

Lord Freddie wrote:

lindz wrote:I think there's a completely simple answer to this problem if you can't understand something or are finding something hard to read surely the logical answer would be not to reply because if you can't understand a post whether the poster has written something that you can't understand or if the writter has written it fine but you can't understand surely it wouldn't be your concern because you cannot understand it so why reply it's pretty pointless and doesen't achieve anything.

What choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?

Me az no idea rudeboi

as you may of noticed, i often use elipses to indicate a pause of breath as i speak to you via the aid of this here electronical alphabet audio/visual box i have before me...

there you go...

that is really, partially lazy of me, because deep down, as i sit here, reading this, feeling sleepy now, thats right, even sleeper as you relax into your seat...sorry, wrong post...yes, lazy of me to do it because i know everyone is capable of pausing in mid sentence, and we do have other punctuation to use too...

but it's a habit i find very hard to break - i was even told off for it recently too...as you can see, it didnt deter me...

however, people whose initial language isnt English, i think is apparent if mispelt - so obviously that shouldnt even be mentioned. The fact that alot of people in Britain don't even bother learning other languages speaks, ironically, volumes. We just shout when we go abroad, or put o's and i's at the end of english words.

Text speak is horse-poo, always will be, if you rely on that, you should have your fingers broken and be beaten into submission by a book. I can speek proper ever since i wuz children - so iz fine...

It would be lovely to read a flurry of aeolistic gammatically correct and yet mildy amusing posts, but they are very few and far between.

But it is a shame we can't swear on here. That would be ******* great...

Lady of Mystery wrote:Hey Crispy, perhaps you and I could set up the 'Lady of Mystery and Crispy Center For Kids Who Can't Read Good and Wanna Learn to Do Other Stuff Good Too' where we could teach them magic and how to be ridiculously good looking.

Crispy can supply the 'Blue Steel'!

I think a lot of good points have been made, but lindz has got closest to what I feel. Everyone makes typos (I made one recently which I spotted shortly afterwards, but after my post had been quoted, so I left it). Minor spelling errors are not going to kill anyone.

If the mistakes are so frequent that the posts are effectively unreadable, or require lots of effort, I will often skip past them. I'm aware that some of my lengthier messages probably received the same reaction from some people, irrespective of spelling!

Even if someone is using txtspk, I tend to ignore them, rather than have a go. It is almost always the best way to treat someone you don't want anything to do with online. If it gets really bad, alert a moderator. The TM team is efficient and there's cover for much of the day.

To be fair, they don't all spell 'nite' and quite a few do realize the correct spelling is, 'night' but at the same time I fear the scales are tipping and night is slowly being replaced by nite.

the United States of Phonetics eh? i wouldnt trust 'em over a Scrabble board thats fo' sho'....

I guess I posted my "English" post in the wrong section.
Oh well.

I am American, and granted I am not the best... I do know how to use spell check and a dictionary.
I do not use "txt" messaging. Heck, I rarely even use it on my cell phone, I am more prone to spelling the words out. Yes it takes longer, but the message is much more clear and understood.
The only time I really use "txt" is when making fun of people, while talking on MSN or I am in a hurry on the cell phone of MSN.

I much prefer to be able to understand the post, rather than have to figure it out.

People are more likely to help another, if they can understand the post.
So there is no excuse for horribly written posts or texting.
(this is all for English speakers, as their first language. and for those that do not have a mental or serious physical handicap)

Hope that came across clearly, if not tell me and I will do my best to clear it up.

But if you really want an eye sore, go to the bird forums. A site full of teens- from all over; canada, england, America, europe, aussie, scottland...

If the whole world spoke English, things would be a lot easier.

By the way, whatever happened to Esperanto?
The Gareth Gates of languages...

I'm pretty sure we all use slang without even knowing it verbally, and have occasionally irritating repititions y'know what i mean?

but somehow, on a forum, those can become HUGE irritants, y'know what i mean?

i tri and spel propa, i suppose the bottom line is, try to do the best job you can with the spelling, but don't sweat it y'know what i mean?

To lighten the tone of this discussion, which seems to be some kind of personal crusade, have a laugh at America's funniest man interviewing an illiterate buffoon:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pHEFLLUMsdk

Yes, it's edited together, but by jove - it's funny!