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wasleys · 06-17-2005, 10:32 PM

Erin,

What do nOOb and pwned mean? I have never come across them. That in itself proves my point.

Some of your comments deserve challenging.

The point about paying for access time is a cop-out. People can just as easily type in a word-processor then paste a properly corrected version into their browser. It might give them valuable practice. It might also help them get a more useful answer if their question is the more easily understood for making the question easily understandable.

The bit about being used to using the abbreviations in text messages (and it is this which causes me very serious concern) just doesn't stand up. I might be used to using the Lincolnshire vernacular but I don't use it here. The use of texting abbreviations can only cause obfuscation by confusing not only those who have little command of the language (ah - so xplain is how you spell explain) but also those who are fluent (does 4 mean for or four?). I would suggest a duty of care is incumbent on all of us here to do all we can to make posts easily understandable to people with limited command of the language. I would also suggest we have a general responsibilty to bear the readers, not ourselves, in mind when writing. The use of proper English will help with both of those.

The decision whether or not to correct grammar may not be as clear cut as you imply. In many cases I would consider it both unnecessary and rude to correct the English of a foreigner trying his best to communicate with me. However I have found that in some cases such correction is actively welcomed as they are using me to practise their English. Also in answering a post here I might point out an error if I feel it would be helpful (and I might even use a BTW to do it).

The bit about not being ready for college is a bit of a red herring, but a native English speaker who can't be bothered to use proper English will not be a competent communicator and that may well have implications on their suitability for higher education. What is relevant is that here we are talking about taking the trouble to use a language in its correct form when seeking to improve performance in use of that language. However, as you say, if people want to do it, so be it. The corollary is, of course, that if people don't feel inclined to answer questions from those who can't be bothered to do their best in writing those questions, so be that.

What's a tooltip tag? Is it supposed to do something?

Michael

EOE

06-17-2005, 10:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
wasleys Real ale taster Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scunthorpe, UK Posts: 1,990	Erin, What do nOOb and pwned mean? I have never come across them. That in itself proves my point. Some of your comments deserve challenging. The point about paying for access time is a cop-out. People can just as easily type in a word-processor then paste a properly corrected version into their browser. It might give them valuable practice. It might also help them get a more useful answer if their question is the more easily understood for making the question easily understandable. The bit about being used to using the abbreviations in text messages (and it is this which causes me very serious concern) just doesn't stand up. I might be used to using the Lincolnshire vernacular but I don't use it here. The use of texting abbreviations can only cause obfuscation by confusing not only those who have little command of the language (ah - so xplain is how you spell explain) but also those who are fluent (does 4 mean for or four?). I would suggest a duty of care is incumbent on all of us here to do all we can to make posts easily understandable to people with limited command of the language. I would also suggest we have a general responsibilty to bear the readers, not ourselves, in mind when writing. The use of proper English will help with both of those. The decision whether or not to correct grammar may not be as clear cut as you imply. In many cases I would consider it both unnecessary and rude to correct the English of a foreigner trying his best to communicate with me. However I have found that in some cases such correction is actively welcomed as they are using me to practise their English. Also in answering a post here I might point out an error if I feel it would be helpful (and I might even use a BTW to do it). The bit about not being ready for college is a bit of a red herring, but a native English speaker who can't be bothered to use proper English will not be a competent communicator and that may well have implications on their suitability for higher education. What is relevant is that here we are talking about taking the trouble to use a language in its correct form when seeking to improve performance in use of that language. However, as you say, if people want to do it, so be it. The corollary is, of course, that if people don't feel inclined to answer questions from those who can't be bothered to do their best in writing those questions, so be that. What's a tooltip tag? Is it supposed to do something? Michael EOE _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Native English speaker just trying to help people who post using proper English.