Reply to: Why don't we talk and write like we used to ?

[AlfredJPruffock]

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.


"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"


He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.


And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!


One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.


"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.



`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

[Mich the Tester]

You mean "spk4urself".

As a point of interest though, the vast majority of "text speak" is pretty easy to understand and works in much the same way as shorthand used to (i.e. omission of the vowels unless they start the word).

In addition to that, I recall reading an article recently regarding a debate about the evolution of the usage of English and, more specifically the spelling of words. The essence of the article was evolving towards the phonetic spelling of words in place of their "more confusing" current equivalent. Similar as to the gradual progression from Ye Olde Englishe..

Is spellinge in a phonticke fashion perchance more evidence that the plebs are indeede as thicke as shytte?

[Ravello]

Speak for yourself.

You mean "spk4urself".

As a point of interest though, the vast majority of "text speak" is pretty easy to understand and works in much the same way as shorthand used to (i.e. omission of the vowels unless they start the word).

In addition to that, I recall reading an article recently regarding a debate about the evolution of the usage of English and, more specifically the spelling of words. The essence of the article was evolving towards the phonetic spelling of words in place of their "more confusing" current equivalent. Similar as to the gradual progression from Ye Olde Englishe..

[Mich the Tester]

That's a whole heap easier to understand than Chaucer.

Speak for yourself.

[Ravello]

O its all gud. nuffin rong wit da nu skool spk eh? Itz teh bom, n u cn still unnerstanz it alrite.

k thx bai

That's a whole heap easier to understand than Chaucer.

[Stan.goodvibes]

If one has ever had the opportunity to bear witness to such televisual delights as any of the Dickensian adaptions, then one will be most acquainted with the manner in which the actors elocute their sentiments.

Does it not seem that we have misplaced the art of verbose, with all its colourful invocations and adopted a slothful approach to communication with the use of prose ?

O its all gud. nuffin rong wit da nu skool spk eh? Itz teh bom, n u cn still unnerstanz it alrite.

k thx bai

[Gonzo]

At which point would you set the "definitive" version of the English Language?

Here's some of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in Middle English (an easy one for me to find). That is how we would all be talking six hundred years ago, (although it wasn't compulsory to talk in verse).

Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote
And bathed every veyne in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halfe cours yronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open eye-
(So priketh hem Nature in hir corages);
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages
And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes
To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;
And specially from every shires ende
Of Engelond, to Caunterbury they wende,
The hooly blisful martir for to seke
That hem hath holpen, whan that they were seeke.

[snaw]

Although those adaptions were obviously basically Dickens putting words into his characters' mouths, I think there is something in that. For example would people today be able to think up so many clever songs and tunes like the guys in WW1? (Admittedly many were adapted from existing music hall songs.)

You're not into watching football then I guess?

[Board Game Geek]

Wise words from the Owl.

I remember at school, if any children could not articulate properly, they were sent to the Elocution Class for as many terms as it took in order for them to speak clearly.

[OwlHoot]

If one has ever had the opportunity to bear witness to such televisual delights as any of the Dickensian adaptions, then one will be most acquainted with the manner in which the actors elocute their sentiments.

Does it not seem that we have misplaced the art of verbose, with all its colourful invocations and adopted a slothful approach to communication with the use of prose ?

Although those adaptions were obviously basically Dickens putting words into his characters' mouths, I think there is something in that. For example would people today be able to think up so many clever songs and tunes like the guys in WW1? (Admittedly many were adapted from existing music hall songs.)

Also, in times past kids at school were hauled out more often to declaim in front of the class, which helped them a lot with public speaking later. Apart from school plays, I don't think there's much of that these days, in case the poor dears get too nervous.

[Board Game Geek]

One should also observe that any respectable purveyor of the aforementioned finest of ales will indubitably have some fine serving wenches in his employ.

The question then begs Sir.

Whither the wine or the women ?

For it would be a wanton wretch that doth desire both, since the intoxication of a woman's good bosom is almost akin to that of a tankard. Yet both in equal measures might impune a man's best friend and cause him to lie asleep when he doth desire to "awaken".


God is on my ignore list.

[Sysman]

One would not be required to request one’s favourite beverage, for a hearty and upstanding landlord would recognise one’s distress and quickly purvey a pint of his finest ale.

One should also observe that any respectable purveyor of the aforementioned finest of ales will indubitably have some fine serving wenches in his employ.

[Board Game Geek]

Mich the Tester wrote : One would not be required to request one’s favourite beverage, for a hearty and upstanding landlord would recognise one’s distress and quickly purvey a pint of his finest ale.

That's the spirit !

Just imagine how we could enliven the world of business-speak ?

Blue-sky thinking ? Pah !

Azure horizon contemplation !

Run it up the flagpole and see who salutes ? Pah !

Assist the ascent of an idea up a fictional flagstaff and observe whoever donates it consideration and assent.

Etc...

[Mich the Tester]

It would certainly give you more chance to leg it unscathed

Bit of a bugger when it takes you half an hour to ask for a pint though.

One would not be required to request one’s favourite beverage, for a hearty and upstanding landlord would recognise one’s distress and quickly purvey a pint of his finest ale.

[Sysman]

I mean, if you are going to get mugged at knife point in modern day, wouldn't it be nice if at least it could be done with some intelligence and good humour, by well-spoken thugs, as opposed to the louts we get today ?

It would certainly give you more chance to leg it unscathed

Bit of a bugger when it takes you half an hour to ask for a pint though.