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STANDARDS OF ENGLISH


  • I-Like-Rhymes
    Sep 5 7:53 AM
    Reply
    This thread was taken from the particular poem on which it was started and placed here as a more appropriate venue.
    Poem comments should be about the poems and not ablout the other readers.
    Jim
    Oldpoetry Team Leader

  • I-Like-Rhymes
    September 5 ↑
    Reply

    From guest R. A. Marriott August 24th 2009

    I notice that all messages from correspondents in their late 30s and older are written in good English, whereas the message from schoolgirl Belinda (who expects someone else to write her school assignment) is bereft of capital letters and includes several grammatical errors and spelling mistakes - among which is the ghastly text-message abbreviation ‘plz’ instead of ‘please’. If high-quality literature is (surprisingly) still taught in schools, why are grammar, spelling and syntax now considered unimportant?

  • I-Like-Rhymes
    September 5 ↑
    Reply

    from guest Ali Archer September 2nd 2009

    Maybe R.A Marriott should be congratulating the poor, unfortunate and berated Belinda instead of criticising her. At least she sought out an alternative source of knowledge and wisdom, instead of merely relying on her teacher. I am sure she received some praise for her innovative research, which is just that - research, not just expecting someone else to write her assignment. Well done to Belinda and I hope she hasn't seen the venomous post by Ms or Mr Marriot

  • I-Like-Rhymes
    September 5 ↑
    Reply

    from guest R. A. Marriott 4th September 2009

    Mr Archer is obviously not interested in maintaining standards in either English or in education generally, and it is of no importance that he considers my comments ‘venomous’. Conversely, I am very concerned that the English language has been poisoned by the abbreviations, truncations and inaccuracies of text-messaging, that many people consider such degradation to be of no consequence, and that this pervasive laxity is even encouraged under the guise of ‘plain English’. Mr Archer’s ‘poor, unfortunate and berated’ Belinda (I brush away a tear) might require some guidance, but simply asking no-one in particular to ‘plz paraphrase the second stanza for me bacause i need it for a school assignment’ is not ‘research’, and is certainly not ‘innovative’. It is plagiarism - ‘... the taking and using as one’s own of the thoughts, writings, or inventions of another’ (Oxford English Dictionary). Presumably, the teacher’s intention was to encourage Belinda to think for herself and to draw her own conclusions; but if the requirement to ‘paraphrase the second stanza of John Masefield’s ‘Cargoes’’ were to instead arise in a written examination, she would not be able to consult anyone. I shall not contribute further to this argument unless someone opposes me. This website is, after all, dedicated to the richness of the English language, and it is appropriate that subsequent postings on this page should relate to John Masefield’s linguistic fecundity.

  • I-Like-Rhymes
    September 5 ↑
    Reply

    THOUGHTS

    Both the above contributors raise valid points.
    It is sad that the richness and diversity of the English Language is being depleted by the advent of such innovations as "TXT TLK" but it is a fact that the dreaded TXT TLK is a valid subset of the language and, provided it's use is contained within the boundaries that it first arose, it is as valid as any of the dialects such as Tyke, Lanky and Geordie that I, for one, would wish to preserve in the real world as well as here.
    When I manage to translate "some" of these TXT TLK comments they are actually enlightening and the posters are to be thanked for sharing their insights regardless of the language. (We have Hindi, Urdu, Spanish, french and other languages in the comments here so one more is not too big a problem)
    What bothers me much much more is the laziness of the original comment that demanded, not requested, someone at Oldpoetry to do what was clearly a "set piece" of "homework" or "project work".
    When a reader requests help the Oldpoetry team and other readers will often try to assist but when that help is demanded it rarely stays on the board very long (Note this one is gone!!).
    Additionally any help that is provided is often in the form of prompt-questions to draw out the information from the questioners own efforts. I agree that people should not be able to gain credit "off the backs of others"

    Finally what does really bother me as a worker on this site is the Poet and Poem comments being hi-jacked for purposes other than discussion of the Poet and/or Poem. These forums are much better.
    Jim
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