Modern spelling and text speak

I've just seen the following on FB: 'Soz bout yr mum' following someone posting that their mother had just died. Strikes me as very offhand.

Nina we tend not to correct another poster's slip-ups.

How sad that people can get depressed over spelling mistakes bad spelling when real grief is in the air.

Well spotted ninathenana, must read it through before pressing send

My daughter and I make it a rule never to buy anything on line from anyone who uses textspeak, or just can't spell. I'm afraid that, at well over 50, I say cool an awful lot though.

It rather depresses me that, whenever there is a tragic death of a teenager and the tributes from their friends are shown, so many of them are full of spelling mistakes.

Lord, Ana - ickle and lickle, I detest them!

I don't mind text speak in its rightful place - on a teenager's mobile usually. But I saw a request for feedback from a job interview in text speak recently - it does worry me that someone in their 20s didn't understand that this wasn't appropriate.

As we are in Pedants' corner I'm going to be the one who dares to point out Berdie's slip up when talking about there iPads

I too find text speak annoying when used in e-mails or anywhere other than a text message.

My GD used to used text-speak until she got an i-phone and predictive text which detects her intentions and speaks English.

I've seen text speak written on the cards that accompany flowers, when someone has died. Even at the time like that they couldn't use proper English.

mamie

My pet hate is 'lickle'.

Plenty of people my age who fink and fought. My granny and her generation too. Lunnun innit.

The link didn't work, mice.

Use of text speak writing is rebellion against the rules. People who use it enjoy getting people who hate it into a tizz. Keep calm and ignore it or join in is my approach. Off to read that Grauniad artikle the noo.

I'm sorry, I may have given the wrong impression, I do not want English to be "fossilised", just used properly in the right context. There are children attending school who cannot string a sentence together, lets make sure they can speak English correctly first, then use text speak or whatever on there IPhones later. I wouldn't want them to be like one of our managers, who is in his late forties, and still "finks" and has "foughts"

In pubs there used to be - maybe still is - a number plate above the bar with RU18 on it which is, like the fictional detective, a Rebus.

I don't think it is always "lazy" to play around with language and try out new genres. I think it is lazier to think that language should be fossilised in some golden age and any departure from that must be evidence of declining standards, poor education, the awfulness of youth etc etc
I don't always use text speak, but I do sometimes because it is fun and stretches my brain.
I suggested to my neighbour that we went shopping in Car4 the other day. She liked it.

But, take a look at one of the most distinguished linguistics scholars has to say:

www.theguardian.com/books/2008/jul/05/saturdayreviewfeatres.guardianreview

Oh yes - was it called speedwriting?

My old lecture notes look like text speak..

Remember when something very similar to text lingo was advertised as an alternative to shorthand - back in the fifties? About the time when 'cool' was coined... it's all sixty years out of date!

Text speak is just a modern variation of language; the problem as ever, is that it is only appropriate within certain groups and at specific times. Many people don't use it appropriately.

Sloppy speech is another matter altogether! On the local BBC news, here in the SW, there is a young weather presenter who insists on talking about the "Chall islands"! Would like to smack her.

Sorry GCs oops

No not too old Mrs SB, why are we intent on spoiling the English language with this type of "speak" ?. One of my pet hates is the phrase "its a no brainer", where on earth has that come from. Its bad enough trying to teach your children and GD's to speak properly, without adults "fincking", and using the word "fought" instead of thought. Its just down to laziness, nothing wrong with the three "Rs". Keep the standards up*MrsSB*.

Not too old MrsSB just a true, proud Gransnetter