Adam's English Journal

Explore the view that speaking, texting and/or web based interactions can be very creative forms of language use.

I believe that speaking, texting and/or web based interactions can be very creative forms of language use because there are so many new words, and new ways of expression.

Identifying distinctive features of spoken language:

• Language devices used like – paralinguistics (ie – non-verbal communication eye contact & smiling & hand gestures)
• Acronyms & initialisms (ie-lol)
• Standard English
• Slang
• Different accents/dialects – extremely important for individuals from different cultures & backgrounds.
• Tone of voice.

Identifying distinctive features of texting or web-based interactions:

• Emoticons – ie smileys.
• Text speak/ Acronyms & initialisms (ie-lol & OMG)
• Punctuation – not often used.
• Abbreviated & convenient.
• Capitalisation – for emphasis – OMG.

Identify the distinctive features for each language type: both text-based messaging and spoken:

Text based language is very abbreviated, often involving shortened slang. Spoken language is subject to accent.

Explain how the text-based messaging uses a variety of these devices to shorten the

Message

Text based messaging uses several devices to shorten the message – largely for convenience and to reduce texting costs. When texting became a common form of communication – text messages could cost up to 10 pence per message – each message containing about 150 characters – so text-speak evolved to fit in all of the information required. Text speak also evolved in messenger systems available online – due to the necessary typing speed required for conversation on things like MSN Messenger and Facebook chat. People started using abbreviations like LOL – meaning laugh out loud, or ROFL – meaning Rolling on the Floor laughing, for convenience.

Explore the differences and similarities between speaking and messages:

The similarities between speaking and messaging is that they both can include initialisms, abbreviations, exaggeration, slang & repetition.

An example of this is the common use of the word ‘LOL’ – meaning ‘laugh out loud’ which is now used in both spoken & messaged text. An example of common slang used in both speech and text is ‘Innit’.

One of the big differences between spoke and text language, is that you cannot hear the tone of the voice – which leaves the tone of the message open to misinterpretation. You also cannot hear accents.

Spelling is something which really separates speaking and texting, or web based communication. It also shows just how creative these different forms of language are. In Mr Waugh’s transcript of the conversation between Tommy and Tyler, he uses the logogram ‘2nite’ and ‘r u’ which are quite clearly not the correct spellings of these words, but are acceptable text speak.

When I look at the transcripts of the spoken conversation between Tommy and Tyler, I can see that they are not using standard diction. They often start sentences with ‘yeah’. If they were texting each other, they would simply write ‘yh’ instead of the whole word. This is an example of a logogram – which is where a individual letter or number replaces sections of words.

If the conversation was more formal, they might have not started with the word ‘yeah.’ Or ‘Cool.’ as it would be impolite. When addressing someone of authority, like a parent or a teacher, it is not appropriate to use informal slang.

However, I also noticed that they don’t often use full sentences either. This is really common in text-speech – as ellipsis allows the message to be shorter, and faster to understand. When Tommy and Tyler speak, they abbreviate for example ‘you watching the game tonight?. This is another example of how creative spoken language can be – it’s really clear what Tommy is saying, but he has abbreviated.

PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO LANGUAGE VARIETIES:

Sometimes the older generation view these new styles, and language varieties in a bad light. They do not see the positives of language being abbreviated, words being changed to letters and so on. It can be difficult to understand if you are not familiar with the local and newer slang terms. An example of this is ‘you’re clapped.’ Which is translated as ‘you’re ugly?’ Out of context, it makes no sense, grammatically or literally, however, in context, it’s quite rude.

Back to texting and web based interactions, although individuals don’t always use punctuation correctly, an alternative use has been found, which is to create ‘smileys’. These are commonly known as Emoticons, and are meant to represent emotions which otherwise cannot be expressed by non-face to face communication – which is a para-linguistic feature.

This is one of the new methods of expression which shows just how creative these new forms of language are.

• The connection between Text language and spoken language.
• Different ” words ” shared between both types of languages(abbreviations)
• The way you say something ,(idioms)

Tommy: kl.

Tyler: kl.

Tommy u watchin da game tonight ?

Tyler: yh u?.

Tommy: yh .

Tommy: what dou fhink da scores gonna be?

Tyler: I’d say 3-0 to arsenal.

Tommy: this is bad dough arteta’s  out and Abou Diaby.

Tyler; I know I know diabys out for 3 weeks and arteta has an ankle injury.

Tommy: yh so what dou  fhink arsenal should do?

Tyler: not sure, they’ll probably start chamberlain, and coquilan centre mid.

Tommy: yh probably, hope they don’t start giroud dough, I hate him

Tyler: yh and gervinho is rubbish aswell

Tommy: yh gervinho is rubbish

Tyler: yh way too crap

Tommy: im so

Tyler: did you see the man united score yesterday?

Tommy:  yes they were lucky

Tyler: van persie got a hat-trick

Tommy: I know

Tommy: did you watch the game on Saturday?

Tyler: what arsenal Chelsea?

Tommy: yh.

Tyler: we should have won we dominated

Tommy: yh ,giroud nearly scored a goal aswell.

Tyler: that’s y I hate giroud he never scores and he always misses open goals.

Tommy: true.

Tyler: I think we should sell him in January.

Tommy: yh or put him on loan.

Tyler: yh

Tommy: that would be a good idea.

 RED = abbreviation :A shortened form of a word or phrase.

BLUE = accent : A distinctive way of pronunciation, this can depend on there nationality, location and there social class/group.

DARK GREEN =

Tommy: Kl.

Tyler: kl.

Tommy u watchin da game tonight ?

Tyler: yh u?.

Tommy: yh .

Tommy: what dou fhink da scores gonna be?

Tyler: I’d say 3-0 to arsenal.

Tommy: this is bad dough arteta’s  out and Abou Diaby.

Tyler; I know I know diabys out for 3 weeks and arteta has an ankle injury.

Tommy: yh so what dou  fhink arsenal should do?

Tyler: not sure, they’ll probably start chamberlain, and coquilan centre mid.

Tommy: yh probably, hope they don’t start giroud dough, I hate him

Tyler: yh and gervinho is rubbish aswell

Tommy: yh gervinho is rubbish

Tyler: yh way too crap

Tommy: im so

Tyler: did you see the man united score yesterday?

Tommy:  yes they were lucky

Tyler: van persie got a hat-trick

Tommy: I know

Tommy: did you watch the game on Saturday?

Tyler: what arsenal Chelsea?

Tommy: yh.

Tyler: we should have won we dominated

Tommy: yh ,giroud nearly scored a goal aswell.

Tyler: that’s yI hate giroud he never scores and he always misses open goals.

Tommy: true.

Tyler: I think we should sell him in January.

Tommy: yh or put him on loan.

Tyler: yh

Tommy: that would be a good idea.

By Tyler & Adam

Yeah we finally got iPads in our class 🙂

A: Haya

B: Hey-do:)

A: How are you ?

B: Having breakfast, then I need to rush to ythe gallery

A: why?

B: I need to invigilate today:) Moving on up 🙂

A: Invigilate what ?

B: Y’bi silly! Looking after the Pictures and sculptures tht are being exihibited. It’s my first true show 🙂

A : T thought you alredy had a show ?

B: There’s a difference between a life drawing show with people who judge your work as it stands, and not ecause they are your friends.

A: Well then goodluck , oh and you have one of the most worst timing to send texts it was completly silent in the whole of the class and sir was talking aswell 🙂

In spoken language people emphisis words by puting words in to capitals, people also try to shout throught text’s by also putting them in capitals, this is one way in which speach influences texting .Even parts of texting have influenced spoken language for example Initisms (omg, lol,lol afk,). But depending on the way thay say it and what the topic of the conversation or piece of writing it can mean different things for example if  you were talking over the phone to a loved one you could say ‘LOL’ which would mean  ‘lots of love’.But if you were talking to a friend then you could say ‘LOL’ which could mean ‘laugh out loud’.

Hello and welcome to your personal online journal.

This platform has been created to enhance and enrich your learning at the London Nautical School. Its purpose is to provide you with an audience for your work (or work-in-progress) and you have the choice (by altering the ‘visibility’ of your posts) of whether your work on here is visible to the world, or only to your teacher.

Anything you post here in the public domain represents you and thus it’s important that you take care with that decision, but don’t be afraid to publish your work – as the feedback you may get from people at home, your peers and people from around the internet is only likely to enhance it.

Remember you can always access your class blog and all manner of resources through the Edutronic.net main website – and by all means check out the sites of your peers to see what they’re getting up to as well.

If you have any questions for me, an excellent way to get an answer is to create a new private post on this journal. I am notified of any new posts and will reply swiftly to any queries.

Make the most of, and enjoy this new freedom in your English learning.

Righto!

Mr Waugh