You've got to be kidding..

[mick]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3854612a10,00.html

Txt speak approved for exams
09 November 2006
By ARWEN HANN and ANNA CHALMERS

Secondary school students will be able to use text speak in written examinations this year, legitimising a language loved by teenagers.

The move has divided students and educators amid concerns the move could damage the English language.

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Wat do u thnk bout txt bing ok 4 sum exams?.

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The second language of thousands of teenagers, text language usually incorporates abbreviated words and phrases such as txt for "text", lol for "laugh out loud" or "lots of love" and CU for "see you".

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) is still strongly discouraging students from using anything other than full English, but says credit will be given if the answer "clearly shows the required understanding", even if it contains text speak.

The authority's deputy chief executive, qualifications, Bali Haque, said students should aim to make their answers as clear as possible.

"Markers involved in assessing NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) exams are trained professionals, experienced in interpreting the variety of writing styles and language uses encountered during the marking process," he said.

Haque said he was confident markers would understand answers written in text speak.

He stressed that in some exams, including English, where the marking schedule specifically required candidates to demonstrate good language use, text abbreviations would be penalised.

Post-Primary Teachers' Association president Debbie Te Whaiti said the authority's new stance reflected the situation in the classroom. "Individual teachers are grappling with it (texting) every day."

However, teachers would have concerns if text slang became an acceptable everyday written language in the classroom, she said.

Christchurch teenager Cathy Adank, a Year 11 student at Avonside Girls' High School, said most students would be surprised to hear text language was acceptable in some exams.

"That's great. You'll just be able to get your ideas out quicker. It's so much faster; you can get through the exam faster," she said.

Close friend Harriet Prebble did not agree. "I think it's a terrible idea. When you start progressing in the world, people judge you on the written language, and spelling things incorrectly seems sloppy and lazy and gives a bad impression," she said.

The girls said teenagers were familiar with text language, which was beginning to affect their spelling.

Papanui High School principal Denis Pyatt said that while he would not encourage students to use text abbreviations in exams, he was excited by the language developments.

"I think text messaging is one of the most exciting things that has happened in a long time. It is another development in that wonderful thing we call the English language," he said.

Text speak could well change language in the future.

"Society has to adapt to change and I think ultimately text messaging could help resolve one of the strangest parts of English, which is its spelling, though I think it will be some time before text spelling is formally adopted," he said.

Stephen Rout, who deals with NZQA issues at Lincoln High School, will not be recommending text speak to his students.

"I would advise students to use proper English rather than text abbreviations," he said.

"Students need to be able to write and understand full English and I would encourage our students to do that."

The chief executive of Write Group, which helps people develop their English skills, Lynda Harris, said her staff were worried about students being allowed to write in text abbreviations.

Strangely, very similar article to this one a few days ago
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770

[UnitedWeFall]

I saw that this morning. It's close to one of the most pathetic things i've ever heard of.

Soon enough this English language won't mean a thing

[Haydz]

More and more this country is promoting mediocrity and stupidity. This sucks.

[Hayce]

^ :thumbsup:

Teenagers are stupid enough without this.

[UnitedWeFall]

Originally Posted by Hayce

^ :thumbsup:

Teenagers are stupid enough without this.

I totally agree (even though i'm a teenager :wink: )

In my defense, I don't even use text-speak in text messages Predictive FTW!

*Edit: Do abbreviations count?

[wazzza]

^^^ what he said

of course it should not be promoted in the classroom

[Bunger]

Sounds a little like when they tried to get ebonics recognized as a second language in our california schools. Txt language has its place, but I don't think in an english classroom is one of them.

[gothecivic]

chur for the email with the link mick

yeah this is a soddin' joke. 'in my day ...' young bloody whipper-snappers definately do NOT need encouragement

I feel old.

Baseball.

[Woody]

I can't stand Textlish - and refuse to use it. (I'm sure we've been over this before, a few years back )
I emphatically disagree with it being allowed in exams. In a text between phones, I can understand the neccessity to shorten words so you can fit what you want to say in one text. Although - wouldn't it be easier to just pick up the phone?. Allowing it in exams is teaching todays kids how to be lazy, unproffessional, and how to take short cuts.

Can you image, todays kids are our future, they'll be running the country and noone will be able to understand them. Political billboards will confuse the crap out of the older dermographic.

[wazzza]

Originally Posted by Woody

Can you image, todays kids are our future, they'll be running the country and noone will be able to understand them. Political billboards will confuse the crap out of the older dermographic.

and thats a bad thing?? they are already pretty confusing.

it's so hard to read as well.

[trend.whore]

wtf that's fuckin bullshit

[del-solider]

well i can tell you now i wont be using txt english in my exams
Itll be too much of a hassel much easier just to write normally

[Team Type R]

OH



MY



GOD!!!

thats crack up, so correct spelling means nothing anymore?? i dont really know what to say, other than it is STUPID!

[americ_ian]

dats fokn funi au

[freestylin_hamster]

I swear to god NCEA seems to be out to make people stupid.

[itekdu]

Originally Posted by freestylin_hamster

I swear to god NCEA seems to be out to make people stupid.

:thumbsup: have said that for a while myself!

[22]

lol a.k.a I am laughing out loud.

[Soichiro]

Originally Posted by Woody

Can you image, todays kids are our future, they'll be running the country and noone will be able to understand them.

I have that problem with the current crop of politicians

[Pharnos]

absolutely fuckin retarded.

[Colza]

On the plus side, it will make it easier for me to get a job in 10 years time, as all people younger than me will be unable to talk properly, write properly, or think without assitance

Last generation of Bursary FTW 8)

[chris_P]

i fnk wot skspre ws tryn 2 sayz woz dat diz shzz iz wack yo

[TakeiTeg]

Just when I thought kids can't be more retarded these days.

[Hayce]

Originally Posted by chris_P

i fnk wot skspre ws tryn 2 sayz woz dat diz shzz iz wack yo

Does that say "I think what shakespare was trying to say was that this shit is wack yo"??

I hope so maybe its not too late for me yet

[chris_P]

yeh thats my best effort, im not realy a txt speak person. As someone said before Full words FTW. i mean they were talking bout the abbreviation LOL on the news this morning, youve got to be fuct in the head to use that in an exam

[RJ]

My jaw hit the floor when I heard this on the new this morning. It really is a joke. Sounds like the kids are running the NCEA.

The one I can't stand and it's sneaking in all over the place... til or till. The word is until FFS!! I did a group assignment at Uni and the girl typing had used the word all through the 10000 word document - fun times editing that bad boy.