Speakeasy: Is the written language changing in print?
Is the written language changing in print?
by double_clutch - 3/31/08 5:04 PMLast week I came across the fake Steve Ballmer blog, which was funny, that led me to a CNN story about Steve Jobs. I am fully aware of the source, but what interested me more was not so much the content, but rather the writing style. I recall in high school our English teacher saying that advertising will lead to a degradation of the language, where phrases will be accepted as full sentences. Now I wonder whether a conversational writing style will do that. Not blaming blogs, I think they can be part of the reason, as it allows for publishing of varying styles. In the case of this particular article, I don't think it can be chalked up to someone making a blog post; it looks like an article. My problem with it was that it was written in a conversational style. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think "Fair Enough." counts as a sentence. My question is this: was it just that I read a story on CNN, or is accepted language changing in print?
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com/
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/02/news/companies/elkind_jobs.fortune/index.htm
Interesting question.....
by Mac McMullen - 3/31/08 6:57 PM In reply to: Is the written language changing in print? by double_clutchIMO, formal written presentations will probably reasonably observe
formal English.
Informal presentations, ie, blogs, many times by the non-professional
writer, or for affect by a professional writer, follow what you term
conversational English, as they are written in a conversational genre.
The objective is communication with a wide audience, with little or no
concern for the sensitivities of an English teacher or scholar.
Blogs, newspaper and magazine articles, as well as verbal presentations
on radio and TV, represent the thoughts of the moment of an individual.
Isn't the purpose of "language" primarily for communication. Shouldn't
it be normal to expect language to evolve over time, as a society evolves ?
When, and by whom, was a "standard" established by which a
'degradation of language' should be measured ? I don't agree that style
alone constitutes a form of degradation.
However I am of an opinion that too often in todays society, the use
of crude and vulgar expressions, both verbal and written, are an
indication of the perverbial slippery slope of degradation.
If you come across an Oxford English Dictionary-
by drpruner - 3/31/08 9:08 PM In reply to: Is the written language changing in print? by double_clutchthe big one- read the intro material. You'll learn that an English dictionary is mainly a history book, not an authority. Therefore editors of future dictionaries will go to the print sources of their day for definitions. Whether that will make "Fair enough" a sentence is up to the consensus of "authorities" in the future, but it's possible that another shade of definition has been added already to "fair" because of the phrase. IMO CNN will be considered "print" medium, if not already.
I also recommend the introductory material to Strunk & White's Elements of Style for an entertaining look at English writing.
Who is Steve Ballmer, and why is he fake?
Whatever!
by James Denison - 4/1/08 5:18 AM In reply to: Is the written language changing in print? by double_clutch![]:)](http://www.cnet.com/i/mb/emoticons/devil.gif)
Thanks for the input
by double_clutch - 4/1/08 11:08 AM In reply to: Is the written language changing in print? by double_clutchIf the question was real, Steve Ballmer is the CEO of Microsoft, and I think there is a blog dedicated to him in the same spirit as the Fake Steve Jobs blog.
I knew the name, just didn't feel like searching for it.
by drpruner - 4/1/08 12:34 PM In reply to: Thanks for the input by double_clutchThe Big Guys gotta expect flak like that. 
BTW a real quote about Jobs is that he would have made a great King of France. Humility not his strong suit.
(NT) Does he know French? ;-)
by Diana
- 4/1/08 1:23 PM
In reply to: I knew the name, just didn't feel like searching for it. by drpruner
I think that if he didn't
by double_clutch - 4/4/08 2:44 AM In reply to: (NT) Does he know French? ;-) by Diana
he wouldn't admit it .
(Disclaimer: I use all 3 types of operating systems, and I don't hate or side with anything)
In that case I believe the penalty
by drpruner - 4/4/08 1:10 PM In reply to: I think that if he didn't by double_clutchfor not learning English would be Mr. Sharpy.
Of course.
by Dan McC - 4/4/08 9:11 AM In reply to: Is the written language changing in print? by double_clutchWhy wouldn't it be?
Dan
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