ttyl
There's a series of tween-targeted books on the market that are written entirely in instant messages. I just read the first one, ttyl, and it definitely raises some interesting questions in my mind.
It isn't completely unlike my last post, where kids can text through their Wii using cell phone txt configurations. In this same vein, this book could appeal to tweens who are crazy about texting (um... an unignorable majority). I'm sure a good portion of them are reluctant readers, and maybe this is the way to make reading fun for these online socialites.
But on the other hand, I know that I learned many of my basic writing skills (grammar, spelling, what have you) through reading. An entire book in IMspeak strips much of that away, or at least reinforces some bad habits (omg, c u l8r!). For me, it's one thing to confine the lingo and the lax rules to an online environment-- even I let some capital letters slip when I'm trying to get a point across-- but when it crosses into everyday reading, I'm afraid it will blur the lines.
Regardless of literary implications, it's a pretty good book. The author has done her homework and "chats" convincingly. The three female characters encounter timeless high school problems (peer pressure, dating) as well as trials that were never discussed in the books I read at that age (being hit on by a teacher, having incriminating pictures of you posted on the internet). Check out the book if you have forgotten what high school can be like, or if you just need to brush up on your IMspeak.
3 Comments:
I'm only 22, but I feel myself slipping into old person-dom when I chat with my brothers online (one gave me a lesson recently, and he was ROFL about how much of a n00b I am to all of this).
I'd love to see parents reading this kind of book - not necessarily so they can drop lingo to look cool around their kids' friends (parents are never cool, obviously), but to better understand their children... and to watch for potential warning/discussion cues like 'POS' (parent over shoulder) when their kids are chatting online.
January 17, 2007
When does netspeak cross the linguistic boundary to become its own definitive language?
I would argue that it is close. I know that I have trouble deciphering some of the very commonplace speech patterns of IM notations. There are examples in history of a language that is devised by a section of a population, allowing them to create their own identity, to separate themselves from those of another circle. How is netspeak any different? And isn't the fact that a published book is comprised entirely of it an added notch to language totem?
January 17, 2007
I read the same book, and found the IM style somewhat distracting-- and I chat all the time.
I agree with your worry, too, that if many books use this style, kids will have an even harder time distinguishing between online language and good writing language. My brother has gotten in trouble for slipping and typing "u" in school papers (instead of "you"), and I'm sure he's not the only one.
January 19, 2007
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