[MK Chris]

Maple Syrup, that show with the mounty who had a wolf and Celine Dion are the only things Canada is famous for and I only partially like maple syrup.

Shut up, Canada is great. As is maple syrup.

And they speak bloody french anyway!

I think about 70% of Canadians speak English as their first language, compared with 20ish% who count French as their first language. Don't ask me what the others speak, probably their own native languages, if they've emigrated.

[Vivienne]

I don't have a link, but I read in the paper the other day that following 'research' by 2 linguists at a Canadian university, they have come to the conclusion that text language is not bad, and they say it's (and I quote here) a "literary renaissance". What do you people think to that?

Personally, I think it's just trying to cover up idiocy and linguistic ineptness, and it bugs the tits off me.

I don't think it is bad if you need to be quick to say something to someone (a friend), but I don't think it would be acceptable to write an entire essay out in text speak. If you are about to get run over by a train, it may be useful! A quick "u got 2 help me"... much quicker than doing an essay.

[S4B]

If you're about to get run over by a train I think dialling 999 would be more appropriate! Or getting off the track!

[Nicola_Red]

I agree with most of the people who have already posted that apart from in a short text message, text-speak is horrible. I studied English Language at A Level, and I learned a lot about English as a living, changing language. I'm not one of those people who objects to new words or new ways of using existing ones. But writng "u" instead of "you" or "2" instead of "two" is just lazy and smacks of an excuse for poor literacy. I recently joined a facebook group called 'Text Speak is Wrong in Every Known Context'..it made me happy to know that I'm not the only one who feels this way!

Aside: I love the way most of us have made a particular effort to use correct spelling, punctuation and grammar in this thread

[Bonanzoid]

As S4B said Viv, why would you be texting someone when you're lying, potentially dying, on a train track?

[Yudster]

I can't believe I am going to say this, but Bonan, don't be so pedantic! She means in an emergency. You know that.

[MK Chris]

I think ringing someone is generally better in an emergency though; then you can be sure they got the message.

[S4B]

Also I can think of a more appropriate message, for instance giving your location would be a start!

[Vivienne]

As S4B said Viv, why would you be texting someone when you're lying, potentially dying, on a train track?

It was something called...... wait for it!! ... a joke.

[Bonanzoid]

Thanks for pointing that out, it was pretty vague I must say.

[S4B]

As S4B said Viv, why would you be texting someone when you're lying, potentially dying, on a train track?

It was something called...... wait for it!! ... a joke.

Oh that explains it. You should stop doing jokes Viv, it's not your forte

[DevilsDuck]

I just sent somone a text and it went 10 characters over a text, i found myself going back through it with a fine tooth comb to work out where i could save, when i re-read my text i couldnt understand what I was trying to send in the first place and it made no sense!

damn it!

and i get 500 free texts a month so why do i care!

[foot-loose]

More specifically, why would WE care?

[Yudster]

Well actually that isn't more specific at all. In fact it's probably LESS specific - "why do I care" is specific to one individual, "why do WE care" is far more vague and non-specific.

What you mean is "More importantly", or "More crucially", or "More to the point" - any of those would do. Pretty much the only word that would be plain wrong in that context would be "specifically". Well done Foots!

*Waits to be told she smells of wee*

[S4B]

You smell of wee Yuds!

[Yudster]

You can talk!

[foot-loose]

*hits yudster with the bint-trout*

[Yudster]

*makes S4B sit on Foots to shut him up forever*

[foot-loose]

*edits post before hitting submit*


Please don't.

[S4B]

HAHA! You are a squashed mess on the floor Foots!

[foot-loose]

Is that this floor, or the one below?

[S4B]

The one below that!

[Yudster]

* Didn't realise it would cause so much mess.....*

[foot-loose]

You've brought the bloody building down!

[Yudster]

ME??!!