once or twice...

Tue Oct 16 13:45:38 MDT 2007

Laura L. wrote: but everyone knows what real writing looks like by the
time they exit grade school.

After 20+ years of working with the teenagers and young adults who are
the products of the public school system, I must sadly disagree. My (and
probably your) generation grew up knowing the difference between the
"teen speak" that we used with our friends and the proper language to
use in a book report -- these days, not so much. 

The fact that "l33t", "LEET", or whatever it is called; is showing up in
resumes is more amusing than surprising (Note to T/W Employers: Brace
yourselves!). I will never be confused with a Grammar teacher but I
think we should change the official language of the United States, to
"WikiEnglish." Almost all languages evolve; ours may be going through
the death-spasms of extinction. I'm like,as bad as like,anyone in this -
like you know?

Indeed, let's light a candle for those hardworking grade school English
teachers (I'm related to a couple of them); then let's light the torches
and bonfires for the rest of them (more than you may want to know). The
good ones are fighting-the-good-fight; but it's getting tougher out
there.

PT wrote: Can you believe that IM language even has a name?

Yes, IM langauge does have a name; it called "The Enemy." #8~)

Blessings,Darren

****************************************

Darren J. Butler

Sr. Technical Writer-Editor, Template Wrangler, Mil-Spec Pharisee

Integrated Data for Maintenance

NG Corp

-----Original Message-----
From:
techwr-l-bounces+darren.butler.ctr=robins.af.mil at lists.techwr-l.com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+darren.butler.ctr=robins.af.mil at lists.techwr-l.
com] On Behalf Of Laura Lemay
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 2:08 PM
To: Pro TechWriter
Cc: TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: once or twice...

Pro TechWriter wrote:

> It's called LEET Speak. 

No, its not.  l33t is a very different dialect from IM, and gamer jargon

overlaps both.  lolcats constructions have seeded all of them recently, 

although the phenomenon seems to be waning with overuse.

Internet and text messaging dialects may be linguistically interesting, 

but everyone knows what real writing looks like by the time they exit 

grade school (let's all light a candle for the hardworking grade school 

english teachers right now).

If you're seeing IM constructions in professional resumes, that just 

makes it extra-easy to screen those candidates into the round file. 

Buh-bye!  Thanks for playing!

Laura

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats
or 

printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007

Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.

http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.

Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical

documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---

You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as
Darren.Butler.ctr at robins.af.mil.

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 

techwr-l-unsubscribe at lists.techwr-l.com

or visit
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/darren.butler.ctr%40r
obins.af.mil

To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join at lists.techwr-l.com

Send administrative questions to admin at techwr-l.com. Visit

http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.