A Different Language

(Image from "Late for the Sky" blog)

 

In an over-simplified context, painters use different strokes and colors, composers use diverse instruments and notes, and writers vary their imagery and word choice in order to best express themselves and to break away from their contemporaries. Preteens and teens have found another way to express themselves: intentionally brutalizing grammar and abusing traditional spelling.

 

Language changes constantly, I know this. I’m grateful I don’t have to use “tis” and “thee” in 2010, but I would feel even better if I could effectively communicate with my pre-teen and teenaged family members.

 

An example of the youth in my family completely disemboweling the English language can be found on my Facebook page. I recently said, in my status update on Facebook:

 

Me: “I hate 'The Loveshack' by the B52's. There, I said it.”

 

Little Bro 1: HIPPIEEEEE

 

Little Bro 2: and i luv bed rock by yung money

 

Little Cousin: ooh yea i can makee yoo bed rockk. LOL love tht song

Little Bro 1: yupper its the bestie....and so ish frigin goofy goober and frigin...idk some other songs besides that frigin sond

Little Bro 2: some1 help pat with spitting, he seems 2 have somthin in his mouth!!!!!!!!!!

Little Bro 1: i dont get it, ooooldie Man. i mean really......wut in the wrld r u talkin about

That, my dear reader, is worse than “Engrish.”

I will be the first to admit that my grammar is atrocious, my imagery is often cliché (I prefer the term “journalese”), and I am not always as clear as I would like to be. Still, in most of my writing, the reader can usually get the “gist” of what I am saying. But the exchange above? I have no clue what is going on and I have a feeling no one over 25 knows.

But that is the point, isn’t it? It is a semi-secret language based on American-English used to confuse elders. No different than slang I used as a kid, just sloppier.

As my cousin explained to me, when asked, “I throw and extra ‘e’ on to things to make it more creative and… it pisses my mom off!”

Indeed.