Bet U can't rite LOL :-)
You'd think that a tech-savvy IT writer would be able to master technology. But between you and I, hi-tech makes me feel stupid all the time. I once reviewed a mobile phone that had so many bells and whistles that I couldn't actually work out how to answer it. So I wasn't surprised to see a news story circulating this week suggesting that technology is making us all look just that little bit less intelligent - especially the young, who tend to use it more than us older fogeys.
The University of Waterloo in Ontario has said that almost a third of applying students are failing the basic English proficiency exam, up from a quarter, five years ago. And it is being blamed on language-destroying technologies such as SMS text messaging, and Twitter.
Language skills have been in decline for years, according to academics, but now they are starting to see a particular problem with students using shortened words such as 'cuz' instead of 'because'. And emoticons and abbreviations are now showing up more frequently in exams and even in academic letters of appeal, according to some.
So, is technology making us stupid, as many headlines this week have suggested? Well, no - for one thing, intelligence and education are distinct entities. And we must always allow for the 'kids today' factor, in which the older generation looks at the younger with a sense of academic disdain. This has been going on for generations. Even Plato probably grumbled at one point that students wouldn't know a comma if it came up and slapped them.
There's also the argument that language is constantly evolving, and that the abbreviated patois we've come to see on sites like Twitter, and in our SMS messages, is simply a natural course of evolution. I acknowledge that up to a point, but let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater, eh? Some sentence structure would be nice, every once in a while. And let's remember to invite Mister Punctuation and Ms Vocabulary to the party once in a while, shall we?
What do you think? Is technology making us a nation of illiterates? Or are the complainers simply stuck in their ways?
Danny Bradbury, MSN Tech & Gadgets
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Posted by: Casual Observer | Feb 3, 2010 2:01:03 AM
Between is a preposition. Prepositions take objects. Between you and ME ... It must be true. Technology does make you more stupid.
Posted by: bella | Feb 3, 2010 6:57:06 AM
i'm quite young, and still manage to have a wide range in vocabulary. may have come from my sharp witted mother, however, it was enough to get me through public school and high school. i can't say i believe its technology that makes you stupid, its laziness. think about it, you're talking to your friends via text messaging, you're in a rush and don't want to say "i will be right back, my brother needs help with something." so instead you say "brb gtg help bro." this has nothing to do with my intelligence, it has everything to do with the fact that i'm lazy. just putting that out there.
Posted by: bella | Feb 3, 2010 7:01:48 AM
perfect example of my laziness, i did not capatilize a single word in that last little blurb.
Posted by: JC | Feb 3, 2010 8:54:32 AM
The objective of life is to learn as much as you can from it, technology unfortunately is one facet of it. It is like all skills, a tool, to be handled and not for it to control your ways around. I've yet to learn how to ride a Camel in the dessert, a horse on the country side and how to care for both of these lively creatures, so there is always room to reach beyond technology's artificial surface and learn so much more. Cheers!
Posted by: Young and Stodgy | Feb 3, 2010 3:28:20 PM
It isn't the abbreviations that bother me, so much as the incorrect word usage and complete lack of grammar. I've received emails without even a period or capitalized letter, and I won't even start on sentence structure. Appreciation for language is probably the only thing that needs to be learned.
Posted by: Mike | Feb 3, 2010 8:12:39 PM
To JC
I think that you mean desert and not dessert. Chocolate camel for dessert is probably not tasty.
My texts are full and complete language so that no one misunderstands my meaning.
Posted by: Glen A. | Feb 5, 2010 6:28:04 AM
I don't think we're becoming more stupid (lovely Grammar) if that is indeed possible. More stupid than what? Last year? Your Parents? What I think is happening is that in our rush to be efficient we are actually becoming less so. How often have you dealt with a customer Service rep that is so rushed that they don't absorb your question? Come up with an answer that is totally irrelevant? Only to be switched to the wrong department & then have to start again? Of course this is abuse of a language & the same is being done with the written word. I frequently have to decipher messages or articles because of incorrect usage which can lead to disaster such as the incorrect fuel delivered to an Air Canada jet, mis read directions to an address for Emergency Vehicles etc. etc. Come on people do it once & do it write! (Intentional) Please!
were we're through threw there they're their
Posted by: Bryan Adams | Feb 6, 2010 12:14:56 AM
I have a hunch that English being a second language for many applicants is a key factor in poor English proficiency among post-secondary applicants. Nonetheless, what a sad state of education when people can not distinguish between formal and informal language, or worse, people believe informal use of language is accepted by academic institutions!
Posted by: Kate | Feb 7, 2010 6:47:03 AM
I think that people should know how to construct sentences and to spell properly besides that's what we have schools for isn't it! We have to uphold standards here or there will eventually be a break down in communications. That said I really don't care if the kids have their special internet lingo just as long as they remember what they were taught in English class, but for business communications one should write properly otherwise one only comes across "as an idiot not worth doing business with"!
Now for what is really making our kids STUPID in the long term is that constant exposure to LEAD in their toys from China! Why are we allowing others to poison us? Chemicals in with our non wrinkle pants is another example! We are discussing our kids language skills meanwhile there are other things that are far MORE worrisome! Kate
Posted by: Mista | Feb 7, 2010 7:54:18 AM
It's one thing to shorthand a quick text to your friend, but when using it to communicate on a whole, there is nothing evolutionary about it. Rather seems like a decline in standard intelligence.
Yeah yeah people might be growing a new thumb and recognizing pattern structures, but when u start typin like dis, wtf am i 2 know what ur sayin... Learn how to use grammar and sentence structure effectively then I can state ROFL.
p.s - And it is ironic to think that I am a high school drop out
Posted by: AK | Feb 7, 2010 8:34:27 PM
I've gotten some real 'doozies' from government officials. One letter, they confused query with quarry. I have staff in Africa ... while they are taught in English from grade 1 - even the university graduates don't use proper structure, and it takes me more time to figure out what they are saying. The irony is ... they all use Office - which will identify spelling errors and typos and grammar - but they switch it off.
Posted by: Danny Bradbury | Feb 7, 2010 8:40:23 PM
Good comments from everyone. And I should have known that some smart alec would criticise my own grammar, eh? :-)
@AK - mind you, I have a problem with grammar analysis engines in word processors. Sure, check my spelling, but I get irritated when a computer tells me that a sentence is too long. I dunno, something about that seems too intrusive somehow.
Posted by: CO | Feb 8, 2010 7:41:24 AM
@Danny Bradbury
Do you realize you just used "dunno" in your comment?
Posted by: Danny Bradbury | Feb 8, 2010 9:05:47 AM
@CO Yep!
Posted by: Lisa | Feb 12, 2010 8:01:47 AM
I worked with someone that would send out e-mails to company executives and clients using 'u', 'cuz', 'rite', etc... I threw up a little in my mouth every time.
Posted by: Shane | Feb 12, 2010 9:33:58 AM
i have to agree with the article, i have never been great at english, and probably never will be at writing it, but being 25, i can definetly see the steady decline in intelligence. kids not being able to spell, not using proper sentences, even when speaking. its getting to the point where eventually we are going to lose our language to the steady onslot of OMG WTF RU ok. three sentences, wrapped into a garble of letters.
Posted by: T.M.G.U. | Feb 12, 2010 9:51:24 AM
I've taken it upon myself 2 learn this "2nd language" mostly 4 my sons. The older 1 gave me a crash course & now i'm helping the younger 1 learn so he can njoy communicating on-line with his friends. Hav 2 admit though, i had 2 make an extra effort 2 complete a legal document the other day without using abbreviations. Been kinda fun steppin in2 their world.
Posted by: lexy | Feb 12, 2010 6:14:54 PM
i tink dis article is bullshat i got into u of ottawa & i text like dis to my profz and derz nothin wrong w dat k!!
btw if any1 wants a gf gimme a shout aleksandra.j.88@hotmail.com
Posted by: Jim Shit | Feb 12, 2010 10:46:45 PM
Lexy: Ur an azz. GFURSLF.
Posted by: Kirk/SpockFTW | Feb 17, 2010 12:42:22 AM
ROFL!! this is crap! I'm 16 and getting almost 100% in my English class....this must be written by a teacher who wants revenge against their student or somthin'....bahahaa but really...I think technology is making us a lot smarter if you ask me, also it makes life so much easier and pleasurable with all the games comin' out for gamers like meself O u O
Posted by: Danny Bradbury | Feb 17, 2010 12:49:35 AM
@Kirk/Spock - Good for you! Keep up the studying...and live long and prosper.
Posted by: Joanna | Feb 18, 2010 8:22:09 PM
I blame the education system. They don't teach you grammar in school anymore. Unless you take the time to learn a second language, it's almost impossible to fully understand your own. Let's use the 'and I' example. As kids, it's been drilled into our heads that it should always be '___ and I'; we're told to never use '___ and me'. However, they fail to mention that when I'm an indirect object or if it's after a preposition, it should be 'me' or '___ and me'. Luckily I had a spectacular gr. 11 English teacher who taught me how to use 'me' properly. :)
Now as someone already mentioned, most of it is just laziness. If and when I want to be taken seriously, I'll take the time to use proper punctuation and capitalization; however, when I'm chatting with friends, I couldn't care less whether or not I capitalize everything that I need to. Time is precious; why waste time making everything perfect when others will understand me regardless?
You can always tell the difference between the lazy ones and the plain dumb ones though. :) The lazy ones will avoid punctuation and capitalization only; whereas, the dumb ones will make spelling errors. No matter how lazy someone is, they're not going to misspell a word if they actually know it.
Back to the main topic though...
I still blame the education system. :)
Posted by: Anonymous | Feb 18, 2010 9:08:56 PM
You kidding about blaming the education system! We always throw the blame on the education system. How about blaming parents for giving their kids everything they never had so in return they can be so easily distracted from getting any school work done. Blaming the education system message gets sent to the kids, the kids then go to school thinking that the school system is a joke so why bother with a good education. Besides, how can we steer kids to focussing on grammar and spelling and getting a medicore job. Even doctors don't make the kind of money as moviestars and athletes and pop stars. Why are kids going to do their school work when they have that American dream of making millions.
Posted by: NIck | Mar 28, 2010 3:11:41 AM
Technology is cool, I mean, compared to the 70's and 80's. I used the computer for much of my English work; word processors really help out a lot. I used to text message quite often, and used abbreviations all the time, yet I knew basic grammar even without the use of the computer, though I would NEVER use informal language for anything education related.
Posted by: K | Apr 17, 2010 2:14:57 PM
Hey I'm 16 and in highschool, and I have to say that's it is not just the technology that is changing our language. I'm in grade 10 english and struggling like crazy because I didn't learn what I needed to know in public school. Don't think that I wouldn't appreciate being able to write in a grammatically correct way, but someone has to teach you. If no one is teaching grammatics, then teens can't be expected to know.