Comments on: Save the Vowels! – My view http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/ tales of the nomadic cat Fri, 25 May 2012 20:58:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: The evolution of language « carocat.co.uk http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-113496 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:22:57 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-113496 [...] in 2006 I first blogged about language and my hate for txt spk. None of that has changed. GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); [...]

]]> By: Coconuts http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-73756 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 23:09:34 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-73756 OMG I know, I am SO GLAD someone’s finally pointing out how lazy our generation has become. It probably has something to do with moral degradation or something like that.

I mean, it’s not like other low-bandwidth channels for transmitting English text abbreviate things like crazy, right? Right? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code_abbreviations

Okay, so I apologize for the facetious tone. But, honestly, all of this “txt speak is the devil, and these darn kids should grow up and learn to type in ‘real English’” is ridiculous. There are good reasons for abbreviating in text messaging: typing is slow (way slower than Morse code in terms of how long it takes to send a given message, for that matter), and there’s a ton of redundancy in normal English spelling.

To put a number on it, there is something like 4 or 5 bits of information per letter in a string of random Latin letters, but only 1 or 2 bits of information in each character of written English, so you coud, in theory, do with half or a third as many letters and still convey the same message perfectly. And that’s not even considering things like syntax and topic (which add further redundancy).

Another point is that people “abbreviate” in spoken English ALL THE TIME, even highly educated, very articulate people, but we as listeners are so good at decoding the “abbreviations” that it sounds perfectly natural. In fact, it sounds downright strange to hear someone articulating every single sound perfectly clearly.

So: don’t hate on txt-speak, appreciate the subtle and refined grasp of communicative efficiency that its use reveals.

]]> By: shtlless http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-54658 Sat, 25 Dec 2010 23:28:54 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-54658 so wat iz dis website again? r u guys lke a movement? cuz dis sounds pretty cool lol

]]> By: tanisha http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-52500 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:45:56 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-52500 This movement is stupid. Are you that bored with your life that u have to start a stupid movement like this.Omg he just spelled text like txt my intellectual mind is gonna burst. Like seriously get over your self dude.

]]> By: Kokomon http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-50545 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 06:58:42 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-50545 itz lolspeek not txt tlk,
stupidz lern it. >:3
http://icanhascheezburger.com/

]]> By: Shao http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-50544 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 06:55:06 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-50544 U dunt c me complaning cuz ur usin smileys.
y dunt you learn how 2 say “Colon D”?
gosh. use proper language.

semi-colon D.

]]> By: Larry http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-39527 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:19:43 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-39527 yAH LEWL i wunt 2 join yer 1337 sp33k moovment…it are kewlzor

]]> By: Davecat http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-33262 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:07:45 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-33262 I’m horribly late to the party, but I hope you don’t mind; I’ve linked to this post at the bottom of my blog, along with that fantastic banner. :-)

I can’t agree with you more; I’ve written a couple of posts about this phenomenon on my blog, and some can argue that English is a language that evolves over time, but I don’t believe that thinking individuals can seriously justify ‘txt spk’. The only reason that people don’t want to type out full words and use proper grammar is simply bone-idle laziness. And if it’s not nipped in the bud now, it’s just going to get worse…

]]> By: Sally http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-32156 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:20:43 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-32156 I’m so with you.
Just so I don’t go completely insane, I’ve grown used to some of the txt words. I’ll allow “u” without my teeth grinding too much. The thing that has been getting to me lately are those who use txt spk AND spell the word out. Ppl is turning into my most hated. I’ve seen people use ppl and type people within the same paragraph. WHY?

This subject always gets me ranting.
haha

As mentioned in a couple other places here is something I came up with…

You’ve heard of the old saying.. Stop and smell the roses.

Well, I’ve come up with one that fits this day and age… Stop and type the words out.

]]> By: Cyrus D. http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-30778 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:14:44 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-30778 I don’t like it too when people abbreviate everything they say when using a cellphone

]]> By: Kristine http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-30060 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:30:55 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-30060 So right. I hate people who don’t even try typing their words out. It irritates me.

]]> By: Sajon http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-29362 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:21:32 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-29362 It’s not even faster to write in ‘txt” talk

To write text its 4 letters instead of 3.

What is the point in sounding like an illiterate idiot for the sake of not pressing 1-2 letters ??

]]> By: Riyoshi http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-28665 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:44:48 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-28665 i’m with you!

]]> By: Simon D.I. http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-27608 Tue, 20 May 2008 01:41:19 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-27608 Wow, I am officially joining this movement! You know, Cat,…it’s actually gotten so bad here in the States that people actually say “L.O.L.” out loud. That’s right, some people, instead of actually laughing,…
…
…
…say “LAWL!”

]]> By: PY687 http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-27528 Wed, 14 May 2008 23:45:57 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-27528 I saw this banner years ago, but just recently, I searched “Save the Vowels” in Google, and I found this site, explaining the movement.

As a result, I’d love to join the movement!

But how do you put it under a signature, eh? Would someone please help me with that?

]]> By: Cat http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-27015 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:56:57 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-27015 Yeah, I never did have time to have more come out of this, although it’s a shame, more people should be aware of it.

Feel free to spread the word. :)

]]> By: Elizabeth http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-26974 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:49:13 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-26974 I just noticed the dates, so perhaps I’m a little late, but I’m joining the movement. Actually, I first saw that banner a few days ago, and looked up “save the vowels.” I’m obsessed with the English language and text speak makes me twitch.

]]> By: Cat http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-16415 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:53:41 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-16415 Haha, that’s quite a strong response and trust me, you’re not the only geek against it!

As for the code, well it’s a .gif image hosted on imageshack. Here you are:

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3920/spellvf1.gif

:)

]]> By: Windfiar http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-16393 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:25:05 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-16393 Could i get the code for that banner? I forgot to mention that. XD.

]]> By: Windfiar http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-16392 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:20:31 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-16392 FUCKING THANK YOU!!!!! I am a Ringmaster on Flyff, so every 5 minuets, this happens ten fucking times…”Buff plz” “Buff Pls” “Buff Pl0x”…Pl0x? What the fuck is pl0x? I’ve even seen plixels. PLEASE IS SHORTER THAN THAT!!! So many things about txt-tlk bug the shit out of me so Thank you for that. I think I may be the only geek against txt-tlk…

]]> By: Nabilla7 http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-4068 Sun, 04 Feb 2007 20:29:59 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-4068 For the most part I understand text speak but I never use it with the exception of when my teacher tells me to use it in IT class. As I’m dislexic I have worked long and hard to improve my spelling and grammar but it’s still not perfect. However it does irk me when a friend e-mails me and it takes me 2 minutes to work out what they actually ment. I also think that the anacronym LOL is used far too much and at least 50% of the time can’t be sincere.

]]> By: carocat http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-2214 Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:22:15 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-2214 Yeah, that is something I noticed as well. when I didn’t bother too much about my writing and started abbreviating things, I just forgot or found it a lot harder to spell properly.

There is this whole belief that geeks constantly write like you said. Well, I’m a geek and I don’t and neither do many others I know.

]]> By: Barrie http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-2212 Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:52:01 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-2212 I am a big technology fan (i.e. geek) but I also love writing, so seeing anything like OMFGWTFBBQLOL makes me sick. People moan at me when I text them because I use full words instead of shortening them. The reason I hate it so much is that is does mess up your writing ability. You forget how to spell certain words!

No wonder I feel at home on Roleplay Servers in World of Warcraft. *chuckles*

]]> By: carocat http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1938 Fri, 05 Jan 2007 04:37:10 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1938 Thanks for stopping by, icedmocha. :D

I have to say I am guilty of incorrect punctuation, but it is very different to German. Spelling is just annoying.

]]> By: icedmocha http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1933 Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:05:11 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1933 I’m with you! I abhor lazy spelling, punctuation (or lack thereof) and other affronts to proper English.

]]> By: carocat http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1444 Sat, 23 Dec 2006 18:26:15 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1444 I have no idea who Sally Struthers is….

But, expect some more ‘Save the Vowels’ in the new year. ;)

Thanks for your interest. :D

]]> By: stjarna67 http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1443 Sat, 23 Dec 2006 18:21:24 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1443 We need to get a spokesperson for SAVE THE VOWELS.

Maybe Sally Struthers….”For only 3 cents a day, you can help an on-line instant messenger or someone sending text messages spell words correct. Isn’t it time you reached out and stopped the damage being done to the English language. Only you can SAVE THE VOWELS. Please.”

Something has to be done!

]]> By: carocat http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1380 Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:33:19 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1380 @ Judy: I know, it’s such a silly thing. People used to be able to excuse it by saying that actual text messages on mobiles/cellphones cannot be longer than 150 characters, but they aren’t any more. I don’t understand it.

@ renaiken: Glad to hear it. :D

@ Matt: That’s because this post keeps appearing on different sites and people link to it. ;)

]]> By: Matt http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1273 Wed, 20 Dec 2006 20:29:52 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1273 It’s amazing how many people are joining this far after it was posted, Cat.

]]> By: renaikan http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1254 Wed, 20 Dec 2006 07:59:50 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1254 I’ll definitely join.

]]> By: Matt http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1233 Tue, 19 Dec 2006 20:58:07 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1233 Ish: Probably the spam that failed to get posted

To make this relevant: SAVE THE VOWELS.

]]> By: Sha http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1226 Tue, 19 Dec 2006 19:49:30 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1226 Sorry guys, my school filtering system was being stupid yet again. Oh well…now three weeks free of that system!

]]> By: judyrose http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1223 Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:51:54 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1223 People become lazy and fail to develop the skill of writing English correctly – a bad habit that will lead to trouble in school and at work. It’s not like you have to actually BUY the vowels (a la Wheel of Fortune). They’re free. So go ahead, use them all you like. How many things in this world are free anyway?

]]> By: ish http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1209 Tue, 19 Dec 2006 11:57:32 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1209 pr0n links? Where? What?

]]> By: carocat http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1202 Tue, 19 Dec 2006 11:24:10 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1202 Hmm, how did that comment end up in here?

]]> By: Sha http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1197 Tue, 19 Dec 2006 10:27:45 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1197 Gah…now cat’s site got blocked ~grumbles about the filtering system~ Twas about the porn links this time. I got those google ones too…was a real pain!

]]> By: carocat http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1169 Mon, 18 Dec 2006 23:55:34 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1169 Basilee, that is really funny. I hadn’t though of adding MORE vowels. Gotta hand it to you there. :D

]]> By: Basilee http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1168 Mon, 18 Dec 2006 23:38:14 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1168 I aime pro-vouwele. Hecke… Ie thinke wee oughtoa adde mooore of theome to lainguage.

]]> By: English is a language … USE IT « Mike’s TechLog http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1058 Sat, 16 Dec 2006 22:49:24 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-1058 [...] Yes !! Filed under: interesting   |   [...]

]]> By: carocat http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-966 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:43:48 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-966 Welcome, Heather’s friend. ;)

I was debating of getting another image that is missing all the vowels, just to prove a point, but a Tshirt is as good. :)

]]> By: bev http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-965 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:39:30 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-965 heather’s friend here. perhaps a “SV TH VWLS” shirt is in order.

]]> By: carocat http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-964 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:27:43 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-964 Oh, I’ve always wanted to play Wow! But yeah, especially in games and the games community the spelling is bad. I’m involved in some of the UK’s largest Xbox 360 communities and the spelling of some is just shocking.

I do like the design, shame that shipping stuff to the UK is too expensive.

Please do spread the word, the more people complain, the better. :D

]]> By: heather http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-963 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:20:04 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-963 I swear this isn’t meant as shameless self-promotion; mostly I thought you’d be amused. I’ve long been annoyed by the whole phenomenon as I’m a 33-year-old who plays Warcraft, and I’m a writer by trade, so the kind of English-slaying I see in the chat channels drives me insane. Folks often excuse it by saying, “as long as people understand what I’m saying it doesn’t matter if my grammar/spelling are okay!” to which I always want to reply, “EXACTLY!” Half the time the things these folks say either take too long to interpret (as you say) or could actually mean any one of several things because they’ve been so careless with their words.

So, some time ago, I made a shirt design at cafepress that expresses my feelings on the matter in language I figured such people would understand: LRN2TYPE!

I’m passing your blog post link on to an editor friend of mine. I think she’ll be highly amused. ;)

]]> By: Ashish C. http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-861 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 09:29:21 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-861 My link probably got lost in the way…..

]]> By: carocat http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-797 Wed, 13 Dec 2006 20:08:00 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-797 Yey. :D

]]> By: Sha http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-795 Wed, 13 Dec 2006 20:01:44 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-795 Yep it does work :D

]]> By: carocat http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-791 Wed, 13 Dec 2006 19:42:53 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-791 Wohoo! Right, I shall work on that even more, so my blog is a place people like to come to. (Don’t mind me, I’ve gone crazy in the last few hours, it’s been a long day!) ;)

]]> By: ish http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-788 Wed, 13 Dec 2006 19:27:48 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-788 It does :)

]]> By: carocat http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-786 Wed, 13 Dec 2006 18:04:53 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-786 Yeah, I know, what is this world coming to? In a few years no one will be writing normal English any more. :(

Welcome to my blog, Sha, glad you dropped by. :)

(I’m working on making people happier when they visit my blog, does it work?)

]]> By: Sha http://carocat.co.uk/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-784 Wed, 13 Dec 2006 17:59:20 +0000 http://carocat.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/save-the-vowels-my-view/#comment-784 I love the idea of save the vowels and cannot believe that they are allowing text speaking in exams! If they do continue doing that, we are going to lose the english language and end up with words some of us cannot even understand like dis instead of this.

]]>