New English?

[Mr Larrington]

Our current calibration specimen for 100% idiom is one Mr "Legs" Larrington.  I think I'd recognise his style anywhere 

 

[tiermat]

In regards to the OP, many years ago I managed a team of IT bods (a total of 12 at it's height, 6 by the time I left), and the "in" thing for them to do was to send emails in l33t txt spk.

After two warnings about doing so I refused to acknowledge any emails that contained such guff.

They soon realised that if they wanted me to sign off their expenses/approve leave/whatever then they had better use plain english...

Txt spk has its place, i.e. where the bandwidth is limited (100 odd characters for an SMS doesn't really let you get a complex message across), but in a "professional" workplace on email, where the charge isn't by the letter, then use plain english, I don't want to have to spend 30 minutes looking at an email to try and work out just what the hell you mean by it!

[Greenbank]

Txt spk has it's place, i.e. where the bandwidth is limited

But there's no excuse for adding random apostrophes where they aren't necessary.

We just had an email about "Required Security Check's and clean desk policy's".

[tiermat]

Txt spk has it's place, i.e. where the bandwidth is limited

But there's no excuse for adding random apostrophes where they aren't necessary.

Random apostrophes, what random apostrophes?   I'll have you know that one was deliberately placed to catch out the inner Lynne Truss

[fred the great]

Is this text speak below? I received it as part of an e-mail. Possible translation or maybe it is a computer translation already! much confused as no mention of Viagra . But someone was trying to sell me something but what was not revealed


"In verbally. do as waterway, sadly. it green ancestry. With asian no propriety markup. To is paragraph port philosopher. polarization to slogan. financier solitaire to surroundings.
Be neighbor? by As. in whimsical the mobilization. On reactive Be incoherent. you as bonded. her on brotherhood. by a peril endure comer. complete no laxative. so uncle by beck. At derive? To by madonna transport. do asset To valet. He philosophy. I is irish. you of tong brother anal. ionic go gripping. be tele, exceptional in immerse.
Is mornings. A is imbalance, toil. you syndrome incorporated. The kosher an vitality suit. Of the boots crackers airline. canine the inaugural. highway noise or metallic. As it desirable spirituality. Which a he preamble is giro. her an fraught. I is sickness dispersal market. To a belief possession cancel. cheer my permutation. crescent of rights counsellor."

[tiermat]

Is this text speak below? I received it as part of an e-mail. Possible translation or maybe it is a computer translation already! much confused as no mention of Viagra . But someone was trying to sell me something but what was not revealed


<snip>

No it's just random rubbish used to try and avoid spam traps

[fred the great]

But my Googlemail trapped it

[Greenbank]

But my Googlemail trapped it

The text is added to bulk up the email to help defeat the Bayesian Spam Filters that some filtering software uses.

Googlemail uses more than one type of spam filter and tagged it as spam for any number of other reasons.

[Jaded]

The problem is that until relatively recently the only real variation in English was spoken, or handwritten. When you are speaking you can generally see/her if the other person has understood your lingo/jargon.

When you put your lingo/jargon up on a forum or in an email you don't get that feedback.

The real problem, however, is a mixture of laziness and ignorance. Laziness in not crafting typed text properly and ignorance in either not knowing you've made an error or in not caring.

We despair of literacy on this side of the pond, but in my experience it is US kids that are some of the most illiterate literate people on the planet.

[Palinurus]

Shit, I outta go backta school.

[mattc]

The real problem, however, is a mixture of laziness and ignorance. Laziness in not crafting typed text properly and ignorance in either not knowing you've made an error or in not caring.

Quite right - we should stamp out laziness in our postings. Perhaps we could start by removing all time-saving devices such as those irritating "smiley" things. Members would be forced to maintain their literacy levels, and intelligent, intelligible discussion would issue forth.

[mattc]

the one I can't work out is YMMV.

Your mileage may vary - what works for me, may not work for you.

Abbreviated and idiomatic, no wonder I didn't get it!

I use "YMMV" a lot, but I wish there was a better abbreviation.

I think it has quite a precise meaning, e.g.
"I switched to the Michelin tyres which gave me 2mpg more. However, you drive on different roads and accelerate harder, so Your Mileage May Vary."

It is good for things that will be strongly affected by an individual's unique circumstances.

HTH !

[Ian H]

Txt spk has its place, i.e. where the bandwidth is limited (100 odd characters for an SMS doesn't really let you get a complex message across)...

My nearest and dearest sends text messages in immaculate English, in paragraphs.

[Greenbank]

My nearest and dearest sends text messages in immaculate English, in paragraphs.

As do I. The cost of it spanning a second text message is secondary.

[Jaded]

My nearest and dearest sends text messages in immaculate English, in paragraphs.

As do I. The cost of it spanning a second text message is secondary.

If there is a cost at all nowadays...

[Julian]

Txt spk has its place, i.e. where the bandwidth is limited (100 odd characters for an SMS doesn't really let you get a complex message across)...

My nearest and dearest sends text messages in immaculate English, in paragraphs.

There's another way to do it?

[Mr Larrington]

Txt spk has its place, i.e. where the bandwidth is limited (100 odd characters for an SMS doesn't really let you get a complex message across)...

My nearest and dearest sends text messages in immaculate English, in paragraphs.

There's another way to do it?

pprntly so lol

[Ian H]

Txt spk has its place, i.e. where the bandwidth is limited (100 odd characters for an SMS doesn't really let you get a complex message across)...

My nearest and dearest sends text messages in immaculate English, in paragraphs.

There's another way to do it?

If it requires paragraphs I write. Wiv a pen.