New world of Internet Expression. Oh, and Halo.

[[wcip]Angel]

Angel,Jun 6 2003, 11:54 AM] If any of my students ever used 3317-speak or other Internet-lingo in an essay or a presentation, I'd slap them silly, and dangle them out the window.

I pity and hate those who use Internet-lingo, be it on the Internet, or in "real life."

Language is dynamic, not static. I don't think that stance is healthy for an English teacher.

My most favourite lesson I ever had in english was in final year secondary education where my English teacher (Head of dept. very 'proper') started swearing at us and using slang to make a point. :P

With a static look at language we have "this is how to spell" and "this is correct grammar"
With a dynamic look at language we can see how we got to this state, and why certain words are appropriate in various situations etc.

Perhaps your English students would learn more about language by studying evolution

I've studied Old English from before the Norman Conquest. I've studied Chaucerian Middle English and Shakespearian Early Modern English. I am aware of how and why languages change. :P

But this is college level. I will be teaching 16-18-year old students who need to learn that 1337-speak and Internet-lingo have no place in an academic essay. Colloquialisms such as "don't" and "won't" aren't allowed in these academic essays. If I were to tolerate "sux" (for "sucks") I'd be fired on the spot, I'm sure of it.

One of my jobs will be to prepare these students for college life. I can't do that by allowing them to write however they choose as the professors at colleges across the country will not tolerate that kind of "linguistic behaviour."
;)