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Lecturer's surprise at spelling controversy
A BUCKINGHAMSHIRE New University lecturer said he was taken aback by the scale of today's national media interest following his call for some misspelt words to be overlooked.
Dr Ken Smith said many had misunderstood his suggestion that commonly misspelt words should be accepted by lecturers.
He said it was already acceptable for some words to have more than one spelling - and this should be extended to about 20 more words.
His views were published in today's Times Higher Education Supplement and created a storm of media interest.
In the article he said: "Instead of complaining about the state of the education system as we correct the same mistakes year after year, I've got a better idea.
"University teachers should simply accept as variant spelling those words our students most commonly misspell."
Dr Smith, a senior lecturer in criminology at the High Wycombe-based university, said: "I have been inundated with calls - it wasn't at all what I was expecting.
"I was expecting to write something of interest only to lecturers in higher education."
He said: "I am sure some are disagreeing because they don't understand what I am saying.
"I am not proposing spelling reform, I am not saying that people who can spell should un-lean what they learn at school or learn to spell these words differently.
"I am just saying we should allow a few more variants."
For example judgement was an accepted variation of judgment, he said.
Dr Smith, a lecturer at the university since 2003, said: "I think all universities in Britain are experiencing similar problems. I don't know if it's got anything to do with texting or the fact that people get their information from the internet these days.
"Perhaps people don't read quite as much as they used to or because most people don't go to grammar schools any more and they don't get taught this kind of thing."
He said grammar school pupils would "go to a lot of trouble to learn how to spell these words".
He added: "I don't see why, in the 21st century, we should go on spelling a word like opportunity the way we do just because that's the way we spell it."
4:45pm Thursday 7th August 2008
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CommentPosted by: smokey, high wycombe on 5:09pm Thu 7 Aug 08
does this man take stupid tablets or something?? Of course people are going to react negatively - the twit!
Anyway the average grammar school pupil is hardly likely to attend his esteemed uni anyway:)
I believe a lot of them do the art foundation programme, then they go to proper university to get a credibel degree.
does this man take stupid tablets or something?? Of course people are going to react negatively - the twit!
Anyway the average grammar school pupil is hardly likely to attend his esteemed uni anyway:)
I believe a lot of them do the art foundation programme, then they go to proper university to get a credibel degree.
Posted by: smokey, high wycombe on 5:10pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]smokey[/bold] wrote:
does this man take stupid tablets or something?? Of course people are going to react negatively - the twit! Anyway the average grammar school pupil is hardly likely to attend his esteemed uni anyway:) I believe a lot of them do the art foundation programme, then they go to proper university to get a credibel degree.[/quote] whoops - spelt credible incorrectly!
*blushes*
smokey wrote:
does this man take stupid tablets or something?? Of course people are going to react negatively - the twit! Anyway the average grammar school pupil is hardly likely to attend his esteemed uni anyway:) I believe a lot of them do the art foundation programme, then they go to proper university to get a credibel degree.
whoops - spelt credible incorrectly!
*blushes*
Posted by: me, Marlow on 5:11pm Thu 7 Aug 08
So because I go to this uni, my degree doesn't count? All I know is the course I'm doing is brilliant and very challenging, and it isn't foundation art!!!
So because I go to this uni, my degree doesn't count? All I know is the course I'm doing is brilliant and very challenging, and it isn't foundation art!!!
Posted by: smokey, high wycombe on 5:17pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]me[/bold] wrote:
So because I go to this uni, my degree doesn't count? All I know is the course I'm doing is brilliant and very challenging, and it isn't foundation art!!![/quote] I am sure it is - I just was not impressed with it at all and I am sorry if I offended you with my remarks, but really when you compare it with other universities, it really isn't very good. Altho to be fair - if you are doing a vocational or practical degree then yes I understand it isn't bad.
But if you are doing an academic degree, then I would say that perhaps it isn't as good as one from a red brick uni.
I am sorry to be blunt but I am afraid that employers do look at which uni you went to and can you blame them when lecturers come out with stupid remarks like this?
me wrote:
So because I go to this uni, my degree doesn't count? All I know is the course I'm doing is brilliant and very challenging, and it isn't foundation art!!!
I am sure it is - I just was not impressed with it at all and I am sorry if I offended you with my remarks, but really when you compare it with other universities, it really isn't very good. Altho to be fair - if you are doing a vocational or practical degree then yes I understand it isn't bad.
But if you are doing an academic degree, then I would say that perhaps it isn't as good as one from a red brick uni.
I am sorry to be blunt but I am afraid that employers do look at which uni you went to and can you blame them when lecturers come out with stupid remarks like this?
Posted by: Plus ça change..., Dohcombe on 5:59pm Thu 7 Aug 08
I wonder if we now also have lecturers & teachers coming through, at all levels in the country, that can't competently handle their own language.
Might explain the lack of competence in spelling among students generally, particularly when parents don't have a positive input.
Forget later schools.
It should be the primary schools that are doing the basics in spelling & English!
I wonder if we now also have lecturers & teachers coming through, at all levels in the country, that can't competently handle their own language.
Might explain the lack of competence in spelling among students generally, particularly when parents don't have a positive input.
Forget later schools.
It should be the primary schools that are doing the basics in spelling & English!
Posted by: WinstonSmith, Marlow on 7:31pm Thu 7 Aug 08
I was looking online to see what 'Bucks new Uni' was and noticed it must already be the centre of dumbing down. On their home web page it states "BE COZ U CAN" Ken Smith is obviously just following his superiors example. Hey, don't go there if you need to spell correctly in your new career. Will your dumbed down degree be worth much now anyway as Prof Ken has blasted this all over the press?
I was looking online to see what 'Bucks new Uni' was and noticed it must already be the centre of dumbing down. On their home web page it states "BE COZ U CAN" Ken Smith is obviously just following his superiors example. Hey, don't go there if you need to spell correctly in your new career. Will your dumbed down degree be worth much now anyway as Prof Ken has blasted this all over the press?
Posted by: slacker, Flackwell on 9:00pm Thu 7 Aug 08
"spelt" is another word commonly misspelt. Its spelled, spelt is a type of grain :-)
"spelt" is another word commonly misspelt. Its spelled, spelt is a type of grain :-)
Posted by: Blueberry, S Bucks on 9:06pm Thu 7 Aug 08
And "its spelled" should be "[bold]it's[/bold] spelled" (or "it is spelled")!
And "its spelled" should be "
it's spelled" (or "it is spelled")!
Posted by: slacker, Flackwell on 9:27pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Blueberry[/bold] wrote:
And "its spelled" should be "[bold]it's[/bold] spelled" (or "it is spelled")![/quote] My apostrophe button isnt working. :-p
Blueberry wrote:
And "its spelled" should be "it's spelled" (or "it is spelled")!
My apostrophe button isnt working. :-p
Posted by: Allan, Christchurch, New Zealand on 4:27am Fri 8 Aug 08
WinstonSmith is concerned that the uni is becumming a center of dumming down. I ask him:
Wer the decision to adopt Arabic numerals (replacing the ponderous Roman ones); Henry Ford's Model T making car ownership possible for horse and buggy owners; the invention of computers to replace typeriters; etc, all responsible for dumming down?
Or did logic and efficiency make the new superior to the old?
So let it be with spelling: let's replace a decrepit system with a sensible one.
WinstonSmith is concerned that the uni is becumming a center of dumming down. I ask him:
Wer the decision to adopt Arabic numerals (replacing the ponderous Roman ones); Henry Ford's Model T making car ownership possible for horse and buggy owners; the invention of computers to replace typeriters; etc, all responsible for dumming down?
Or did logic and efficiency make the new superior to the old?
So let it be with spelling: let's replace a decrepit system with a sensible one.
Posted by: WinstonSmith, Marlow on 8:08am Fri 8 Aug 08
Replace it with what Allan? Let everyone spell words the way they choose? What happens if those words are misspelt? Oh of course it wouldn't matter would it as it would be a varient. As a New Zealander you probably don't know how and why the English Language evolved in the way it has and why for hundreds of years people HAVE been able to spell. Language is not a progression that can be compared with car or typewriter manufacture. If you want to know more I suggest you look on the Times website where a WORTHY professor has expLAINED this is more detail and more lucidly than I can. But perhaps you are not interested and would prefer to take Ken Smiths lazy plan of allowing spellings of any kind BECOZUCAN
Replace it with what Allan? Let everyone spell words the way they choose? What happens if those words are misspelt? Oh of course it wouldn't matter would it as it would be a varient. As a New Zealander you probably don't know how and why the English Language evolved in the way it has and why for hundreds of years people HAVE been able to spell. Language is not a progression that can be compared with car or typewriter manufacture. If you want to know more I suggest you look on the Times website where a WORTHY professor has expLAINED this is more detail and more lucidly than I can. But perhaps you are not interested and would prefer to take Ken Smiths lazy plan of allowing spellings of any kind BECOZUCAN
Posted by: Tharus Bond, Wycombe on 8:41am Fri 8 Aug 08
I think that allowning too many varient ways of spelling a word is being complacent. Our language which is English has varients spoken in America, and other Colony nations. They have developed seperately to our language. Although i don't like the american spelling of words like Honour, the varient spellings from these english speaking countries should be allowed! But not if someone is getting bored with correcting everyones simple spelling mistakes! next time get your students to proof read their work and check it with a dictionary! your attitude is part of the reason why people neglect to pronounce their words correctly as well Bothered doesn't have any v's in it and Water does have a T! key, quay, one unlocks something the other is a place for boats to moor!
the spelling allows you to differentiate between what the word means when read!
I think that allowning too many varient ways of spelling a word is being complacent. Our language which is English has varients spoken in America, and other Colony nations. They have developed seperately to our language. Although i don't like the american spelling of words like Honour, the varient spellings from these english speaking countries should be allowed! But not if someone is getting bored with correcting everyones simple spelling mistakes! next time get your students to proof read their work and check it with a dictionary! your attitude is part of the reason why people neglect to pronounce their words correctly as well Bothered doesn't have any v's in it and Water does have a T! key, quay, one unlocks something the other is a place for boats to moor!
the spelling allows you to differentiate between what the word means when read!
Posted by: Blueberry, S Bucks on 9:11am Fri 8 Aug 08
variAnt
sepArately
And why has everyone given up on capital letters and apostrophes?
variAnt
sepArately
And why has everyone given up on capital letters and apostrophes?
Posted by: Steve, Totteridge Hill on 9:21am Fri 8 Aug 08
...And not one [italic]"texthead"[/italic] to comment...YET!
...And not one
"texthead" to comment...YET!
Posted by: WinstonSmith, Marlow on 9:29am Fri 8 Aug 08
If potential students want a degree in criminology at Bucks do they text Prof Ken 'ere m8 givus a degre Ta'?
If potential students want a degree in criminology at Bucks do they text Prof Ken 'ere m8 givus a degre Ta'?
Posted by: Elmo, High Wycombe on 10:45am Fri 8 Aug 08
I fink its a terible idea. Speling is very inporttent.
I fink its a terible idea. Speling is very inporttent.
Posted by: Dampiera, Michigan, USA on 4:06pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Ok, I just HAVE to comment on this. This is absolute insanity. Aside from the obvious problems that this causes, (I call it misspellchecking: miscommunication when misspelling one word can result in correctly spelling a word with a different meaning all together) there is a far greater danger to be considered. It's called a "standard", folks. Standards prevent our society from languishing in mediocrity. First it's a few misspelt words being overlooked, and before long college courses will just operate on a "Tried" and "Succeeded" grading system. Give them credit for trying, those people who just couldn't pass. They didn't fail, they just didn't secede. And good for them! They shouldn't secede, unity is what it's all about!
Ok, kidding aside, this is a terrible idea. We should all strive to be the best that WE can be at everything that we do. People just don't seem to do that anymore.
Ok, I just HAVE to comment on this. This is absolute insanity. Aside from the obvious problems that this causes, (I call it misspellchecking: miscommunication when misspelling one word can result in correctly spelling a word with a different meaning all together) there is a far greater danger to be considered. It's called a "standard", folks. Standards prevent our society from languishing in mediocrity. First it's a few misspelt words being overlooked, and before long college courses will just operate on a "Tried" and "Succeeded" grading system. Give them credit for trying, those people who just couldn't pass. They didn't fail, they just didn't secede. And good for them! They shouldn't secede, unity is what it's all about!
Ok, kidding aside, this is a terrible idea. We should all strive to be the best that WE can be at everything that we do. People just don't seem to do that anymore.
Posted by: WinstonSmith, Marlow on 6:01pm Fri 8 Aug 08
What I find interesting about all the feedback regarding this topic is the comparative lack of embarassment about the comments originating from our 'local ' university. There are very few comments from students who attend the university. I hope the Editor of the Bucks Free Press will have something to say or will he spend time moaning about how long it took him to do some trivial task that probably would involve walking/parking somewhere...yawn...
What I find interesting about all the feedback regarding this topic is the comparative lack of embarassment about the comments originating from our 'local ' university. There are very few comments from students who attend the university. I hope the Editor of the Bucks Free Press will have something to say or will he spend time moaning about how long it took him to do some trivial task that probably would involve walking/parking somewhere...yawn...
Posted by: smokey, high wycombe on 6:08pm Fri 8 Aug 08
[quote][bold]WinstonSmith[/bold] wrote:
What I find interesting about all the feedback regarding this topic is the comparative lack of embarassment about the comments originating from our 'local ' university. There are very few comments from students who attend the university. I hope the Editor of the Bucks Free Press will have something to say or will he spend time moaning about how long it took him to do some trivial task that probably would involve walking/parking somewhere...yawn... [/quote] I'm not embarrassed. Neither of my daughters went or are going to that 'university' and therefore I feel no loyalty to it at all. IMO it should not be called a university at all as the majority of degrees really are in silly subjects that would not stand up in the real world. If you have 5 mins, go on their website and wonder!
WinstonSmith wrote:
What I find interesting about all the feedback regarding this topic is the comparative lack of embarassment about the comments originating from our 'local ' university. There are very few comments from students who attend the university. I hope the Editor of the Bucks Free Press will have something to say or will he spend time moaning about how long it took him to do some trivial task that probably would involve walking/parking somewhere...yawn...
I'm not embarrassed. Neither of my daughters went or are going to that 'university' and therefore I feel no loyalty to it at all. IMO it should not be called a university at all as the majority of degrees really are in silly subjects that would not stand up in the real world. If you have 5 mins, go on their website and wonder!
Posted by: Allan, Christchurch, New Zealand on 9:46pm Fri 8 Aug 08
[quote]WinstonSmith rote: Replace it with what Allan? Let everyone spell words the way they choose? What happens if those words are misspelt? Oh of course it wouldn't matter would it as it would be a varient.[/quote]
When u think about it u wil realize that a variant, as long as it's a reesonable one, is stil efficient. The message is still sent and receeved. I am using sum heer, and u ar getting my message, as witness your reply to my preevius one.
But we dont replace our outdated spelling with a number of variants. We need to update it with spellings that follo English norms with no, or at most, extreemly few, exceptions.
Then children wil not be frustrated in their litracy lerning by the unpredictability of the spelling of words they want to rite. Regularity in our spelling wil help reduce our 20%-plus illitracy rates in [bold]ALL[/bold] English-speeking countries, including yours and mine.
Do u want to cling on to old ways or make spelling the efficient tool it is ment to be? Is it a museum or a working instrument?
WinstonSmith rote: Replace it with what Allan? Let everyone spell words the way they choose? What happens if those words are misspelt? Oh of course it wouldn't matter would it as it would be a varient.
When u think about it u wil realize that a variant, as long as it's a reesonable one, is stil efficient. The message is still sent and receeved. I am using sum heer, and u ar getting my message, as witness your reply to my preevius one.
But we dont replace our outdated spelling with a number of variants. We need to update it with spellings that follo English norms with no, or at most, extreemly few, exceptions.
Then children wil not be frustrated in their litracy lerning by the unpredictability of the spelling of words they want to rite. Regularity in our spelling wil help reduce our 20%-plus illitracy rates in
ALL English-speeking countries, including yours and mine.
Do u want to cling on to old ways or make spelling the efficient tool it is ment to be? Is it a museum or a working instrument?
Posted by: WinstonSmith, Marlow on 10:46pm Fri 8 Aug 08
Hello Allan, there have been attempts to change the English language in the past, an example was ITA a phonetic reading scheme that initially was hailed as being really successful in teaching children to read however later research showed that as the children became older they were virtually illiterate as they had not mastered the fundamental skills of the English language. An example is if the silent 'b' is removed from 'climb' then related words are not understood e.g. clamber. English grammar has evolved and perhaps I would not be such a sceptic if this suggestion had come from a credible linguistic academic rather than a 'criminologist' from a third rate 'university'. I don't know about New Zealand but Britain has enough problems with literacy and numeracy without this clown Ken Smith adding his ramblings.
Hello Allan, there have been attempts to change the English language in the past, an example was ITA a phonetic reading scheme that initially was hailed as being really successful in teaching children to read however later research showed that as the children became older they were virtually illiterate as they had not mastered the fundamental skills of the English language. An example is if the silent 'b' is removed from 'climb' then related words are not understood e.g. clamber. English grammar has evolved and perhaps I would not be such a sceptic if this suggestion had come from a credible linguistic academic rather than a 'criminologist' from a third rate 'university'. I don't know about New Zealand but Britain has enough problems with literacy and numeracy without this clown Ken Smith adding his ramblings.
Posted by: Edgar, High Wycombe, Bucks. on 1:20am Sat 9 Aug 08
Alan, why stop with "decrepit" English? If words should be spelt the way they sound, "Mr.," in Spanish, should be "Senyor," and a girl, in French, should be "fee," or "feeyet," not "fille," or "fillette." Inability to spell is no excuse for demanding change; we were taught how to spell, and regularly tested on it, from 7 years old, at Stokenchurch, in the 1940s.
In the 1960s "spell it how it sounds" was tried in High Wycombe, and a BFP proofreader was threatened with having his daughter taken into care, if he didn't comply. Being ex-Gorbals, you can guess his response! 5 years later she was the one child, in her class, who passed the 11+, and went to the High School.
Alan, why stop with "decrepit" English? If words should be spelt the way they sound, "Mr.," in Spanish, should be "Senyor," and a girl, in French, should be "fee," or "feeyet," not "fille," or "fillette." Inability to spell is no excuse for demanding change; we were taught how to spell, and regularly tested on it, from 7 years old, at Stokenchurch, in the 1940s.
In the 1960s "spell it how it sounds" was tried in High Wycombe, and a BFP proofreader was threatened with having his daughter taken into care, if he didn't comply. Being ex-Gorbals, you can guess his response! 5 years later she was the one child, in her class, who passed the 11+, and went to the High School.
Posted by: Allan, Christchurch, New Zealand on 3:59am Sat 9 Aug 08
[quote]WinstonSmith rote: Hello Allan, there have been attempts to change the English language in the past, an example was ITA a phonetic reading scheme that initially was hailed as being really successful in teaching children to read however later research showed that as the children became older they were virtually illiterate as they had not mastered the fundamental skills of the English language.[/quote]
Spelling is not the language. It is a tool to record the language. Language evolves. spelling can also evolve, but in English it does so too slowly, and sumtimes in the rong direction, eg, adviser to advisor.
The language is natural; spelling is an artificial convention. It is not a sacred cow.
ITA was introduced for one purpose: To accelerate the lerning of reeding and riting. It did this. Unfortunatly, the children later had to change to TS (traditional spelling), and not all did it successfully. Especially, they had trouble with spelling!
ITA was not intended as a new spelling sistem for all. If it had been and had been carried thru, our present-day illitracy problem would probably hav been much smaller.
Re a need to relate words such as climb/clamber thru spelling: Do we hav a problem relating such words as I, you, he, him, she, her, they, and them?
Spelling needs to be an efficient, workable tool.
WinstonSmith rote: Hello Allan, there have been attempts to change the English language in the past, an example was ITA a phonetic reading scheme that initially was hailed as being really successful in teaching children to read however later research showed that as the children became older they were virtually illiterate as they had not mastered the fundamental skills of the English language.
Spelling is not the language. It is a tool to record the language. Language evolves. spelling can also evolve, but in English it does so too slowly, and sumtimes in the rong direction, eg, adviser to advisor.
The language is natural; spelling is an artificial convention. It is not a sacred cow.
ITA was introduced for one purpose: To accelerate the lerning of reeding and riting. It did this. Unfortunatly, the children later had to change to TS (traditional spelling), and not all did it successfully. Especially, they had trouble with spelling!
ITA was not intended as a new spelling sistem for all. If it had been and had been carried thru, our present-day illitracy problem would probably hav been much smaller.
Re a need to relate words such as climb/clamber thru spelling: Do we hav a problem relating such words as I, you, he, him, she, her, they, and them?
Spelling needs to be an efficient, workable tool.
Posted by: smokey, high wycombe on 8:19am Sat 9 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Allan[/bold] wrote:
[quote]WinstonSmith rote: Replace it with what Allan? Let everyone spell words the way they choose? What happens if those words are misspelt? Oh of course it wouldn't matter would it as it would be a varient.[/quote] When u think about it u wil realize that a variant, as long as it's a reesonable one, is stil efficient. The message is still sent and receeved. I am using sum heer, and u ar getting my message, as witness your reply to my preevius one. But we dont replace our outdated spelling with a number of variants. We need to update it with spellings that follo English norms with no, or at most, extreemly few, exceptions. Then children wil not be frustrated in their litracy lerning by the unpredictability of the spelling of words they want to rite. Regularity in our spelling wil help reduce our 20%-plus illitracy rates in [bold]ALL[/bold] English-speeking countries, including yours and mine. Do u want to cling on to old ways or make spelling the efficient tool it is ment to be? Is it a museum or a working instrument? [/quote] do not be so silly!
How you are writing is lazy - just to btake a short cut. Perhaps you are trying to be clever to make a point.
What next in the dumbing down of language? Ohh I know - lets start talking in text speak too - better still it might evolve into grunts!
Hang on tho, won't we be going back to cave man talk if we do that??
Not all traditional things are bad. Language is beautiful and deserves to be used properly. It is called being civilised and we need more of that, not less.
Allan wrote:
WinstonSmith rote: Replace it with what Allan? Let everyone spell words the way they choose? What happens if those words are misspelt? Oh of course it wouldn't matter would it as it would be a varient.
When u think about it u wil realize that a variant, as long as it's a reesonable one, is stil efficient. The message is still sent and receeved. I am using sum heer, and u ar getting my message, as witness your reply to my preevius one. But we dont replace our outdated spelling with a number of variants. We need to update it with spellings that follo English norms with no, or at most, extreemly few, exceptions. Then children wil not be frustrated in their litracy lerning by the unpredictability of the spelling of words they want to rite. Regularity in our spelling wil help reduce our 20%-plus illitracy rates in ALL English-speeking countries, including yours and mine. Do u want to cling on to old ways or make spelling the efficient tool it is ment to be? Is it a museum or a working instrument?
do not be so silly!
How you are writing is lazy - just to btake a short cut. Perhaps you are trying to be clever to make a point.
What next in the dumbing down of language? Ohh I know - lets start talking in text speak too - better still it might evolve into grunts!
Hang on tho, won't we be going back to cave man talk if we do that??
Not all traditional things are bad. Language is beautiful and deserves to be used properly. It is called being civilised and we need more of that, not less.
Posted by: Allan, Christchurch, New Zealand on 9:18am Sat 9 Aug 08
[quote]Smokey rote: do not be so silly!
How you are writing is lazy - just to btake a short cut. Perhaps you are trying to be clever to make a point.
[/quote]
How do u know my motivs? To clarify, i am not being lazy; i hav to think mor about thees spellings than with TS, because they ar not the ones i was taut.
The point i am trying to make is that spelling is not sacrosanct. I agree with u that our language is beautiful, but i am not trying to hav language changed; just its spellings so that the language will be a joy and of use to mor peeple.
Our spelling not being sacrosanct and being merely a convention, i think it mor important that it be changed to be an efficient tool rather than a mausoleum of Latin, Greek, Anglo-Saxon and other borrowings. Peeple who enjoy that side of the language wil not be disadvantaged by spelling change; peeple who ar only concerned with using language for communication, wil be advantaged.
A win/win situation!
Smokey rote: do not be so silly!
How you are writing is lazy - just to btake a short cut. Perhaps you are trying to be clever to make a point.
How do u know my motivs? To clarify, i am not being lazy; i hav to think mor about thees spellings than with TS, because they ar not the ones i was taut.
The point i am trying to make is that spelling is not sacrosanct. I agree with u that our language is beautiful, but i am not trying to hav language changed; just its spellings so that the language will be a joy and of use to mor peeple.
Our spelling not being sacrosanct and being merely a convention, i think it mor important that it be changed to be an efficient tool rather than a mausoleum of Latin, Greek, Anglo-Saxon and other borrowings. Peeple who enjoy that side of the language wil not be disadvantaged by spelling change; peeple who ar only concerned with using language for communication, wil be advantaged.
A win/win situation!
Posted by: Steve, Totteridge Hill on 10:21am Sat 9 Aug 08
Text speak and smelling pistakes abound now!
Text speak and smelling pistakes abound now!
Posted by: WinstonSmith, Marlow on 10:59am Sat 9 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Steve[/bold] wrote:
Text speak and smelling pistakes abound now![/quote] Do you think this is a good thing then Steve? Do you think English should change from traditional spelling to Americanisms and textspeak? Allan has given us a good example of how the future of English for communication could look.
Steve wrote:
Text speak and smelling pistakes abound now!
Do you think this is a good thing then Steve? Do you think English should change from traditional spelling to Americanisms and textspeak? Allan has given us a good example of how the future of English for communication could look.
Posted by: monkey_boy, Wycombe on 8:12pm Sun 10 Aug 08
May I point out that the Bucks New Uni is a good Uni to study at. Yes some of the courses are possibly not completely academic but then again a lot of courses offered are excellent courses and lead in the industry. A lot of people may be aware that not every Uni offer the same courses and I think that people should embrace the University since it does bring a lot of students and employs a lot of people in the area!
May I point out that the Bucks New Uni is a good Uni to study at. Yes some of the courses are possibly not completely academic but then again a lot of courses offered are excellent courses and lead in the industry. A lot of people may be aware that not every Uni offer the same courses and I think that people should embrace the University since it does bring a lot of students and employs a lot of people in the area!
Posted by: WinstonSmith, Marlow on 10:55pm Sun 10 Aug 08
[quote][bold]monkey_boy[/bold] wrote:
May I point out that the Bucks New Uni is a good Uni to study at. Yes some of the courses are possibly not completely academic but then again a lot of courses offered are excellent courses and lead in the industry. A lot of people may be aware that not every Uni offer the same courses and I think that people should embrace the University since it does bring a lot of students and employs a lot of people in the area![/quote] If you are a student monkey boy I think it is admirable that you, and an earlier contributor are attempting to defend the Bucks new uni. Perhaps the students should make some kind of representation to the top brass to point out that the lecturer has made a fool of himself, the university and therefore the students. If you doubt that just look at the message boards for the BBC national newspapers, tabloids, quality press and international press the majority of readers comments seem to think Ken Smith is a moron.
monkey_boy wrote:
May I point out that the Bucks New Uni is a good Uni to study at. Yes some of the courses are possibly not completely academic but then again a lot of courses offered are excellent courses and lead in the industry. A lot of people may be aware that not every Uni offer the same courses and I think that people should embrace the University since it does bring a lot of students and employs a lot of people in the area!
If you are a student monkey boy I think it is admirable that you, and an earlier contributor are attempting to defend the Bucks new uni. Perhaps the students should make some kind of representation to the top brass to point out that the lecturer has made a fool of himself, the university and therefore the students. If you doubt that just look at the message boards for the BBC national newspapers, tabloids, quality press and international press the majority of readers comments seem to think Ken Smith is a moron.
Posted by: Allan, Christchurch, New Zealand on 5:29am Mon 11 Aug 08
WinstonSmith rote: [quote]If you doubt that just look at the message boards for the BBC national newspapers, tabloids, quality press and international press the majority of readers comments seem to think Ken Smith is a moron.[/quote]
Does it? Or does it meen that all those peeple just haven't thaut thru the issue?
WinstonSmith rote:
If you doubt that just look at the message boards for the BBC national newspapers, tabloids, quality press and international press the majority of readers comments seem to think Ken Smith is a moron.
Does it? Or does it meen that all those peeple just haven't thaut thru the issue?
Posted by: mary, Penn on 10:36am Tue 12 Aug 08
To be honest the mind boggles as to why students do not spell words correctly sometimes , i have just left uni and always used the spell check for all my work this is especially easy as pretty much all work at uni has to be done on a computer and not hand written. The only students who were let off a bit for spelling at my uni were those with learning difficulties like dyslexia. Standards should not be lowered, i remember at primary school i had an English teacher who could not spell,it was terrible as because she couldn't spell , she never corrected our mistakes.
To be honest the mind boggles as to why students do not spell words correctly sometimes , i have just left uni and always used the spell check for all my work this is especially easy as pretty much all work at uni has to be done on a computer and not hand written. The only students who were let off a bit for spelling at my uni were those with learning difficulties like dyslexia. Standards should not be lowered, i remember at primary school i had an English teacher who could not spell,it was terrible as because she couldn't spell , she never corrected our mistakes.
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