Friends
I need your help.
There is a fine group of people - I know very very few of them personally, but they have much to offer in terms of thoughts and experiences in the area of HR.
We all communicate by internet and a forum - we are all familiar wih the technology I think.
Many of the members of this group are from a different country. Many I think do not have English as their mother tongue, but I am constantly impressed at their desire to communicate in English - it makes life for an English speaker like me who has little knowledge of other languages, so much easier.
The help I need is in motivating them and helping them improve their written English.
For example, many of them write in the forum using CAPITAL LETTERS LIKE THIS.
I am not sure if they know that generally this carries the additional meaning of SHOUTING. I find it a little annoying (a personal issue for me) to frequently see this. It is also more difficult to read (this is to do with the way the brain and eyes work when reading).
Many of them also seem to write using the language of the mobile phone text message system. Perhaps it is me - being now 38 years old I use the mobile for making calls and text messages but I guess my upbringing and schooling is so strong that I cannot bring myself to use the short hand of the text message system - my text messages are usually in long English!
I need help in trying to motivate the people that post messages to the forum that this is quite a distraction. You see, the forum is not a mobile phone. It is not limited to a few hundred characters when a posting is made. I'm sure these people know this, so why can't they use full English.
Maybe I need help in understanding them also, and what motivates them to use these styles?
I'd also like to help the many who make a posting and make spelling mistakes or use thw wrong grammar - I'd like to help them improve the use of written English as much for their own benefit as mine.
So friends, do you have any ideas for how I might achieve all of this?
I wonder how many of you realised just which forum I am talking about...!!!???
Warmest regards to you all
Martin
From United Kingdom,
13I need your help.
There is a fine group of people - I know very very few of them personally, but they have much to offer in terms of thoughts and experiences in the area of HR.
We all communicate by internet and a forum - we are all familiar wih the technology I think.
Many of the members of this group are from a different country. Many I think do not have English as their mother tongue, but I am constantly impressed at their desire to communicate in English - it makes life for an English speaker like me who has little knowledge of other languages, so much easier.
The help I need is in motivating them and helping them improve their written English.
For example, many of them write in the forum using CAPITAL LETTERS LIKE THIS.
I am not sure if they know that generally this carries the additional meaning of SHOUTING. I find it a little annoying (a personal issue for me) to frequently see this. It is also more difficult to read (this is to do with the way the brain and eyes work when reading).
Many of them also seem to write using the language of the mobile phone text message system. Perhaps it is me - being now 38 years old I use the mobile for making calls and text messages but I guess my upbringing and schooling is so strong that I cannot bring myself to use the short hand of the text message system - my text messages are usually in long English!
I need help in trying to motivate the people that post messages to the forum that this is quite a distraction. You see, the forum is not a mobile phone. It is not limited to a few hundred characters when a posting is made. I'm sure these people know this, so why can't they use full English.
Maybe I need help in understanding them also, and what motivates them to use these styles?
I'd also like to help the many who make a posting and make spelling mistakes or use thw wrong grammar - I'd like to help them improve the use of written English as much for their own benefit as mine.
So friends, do you have any ideas for how I might achieve all of this?
I wonder how many of you realised just which forum I am talking about...!!!???
Warmest regards to you all
Martin
From United Kingdom,
hi martin,
ya that's very true and I guess I got it. Well I really appreciate for your feelings to help other members. You are correct as what you said about using english which is free of grammatical mistakes, slangs and sms language. Now I would not comment on grammar issue because we cannot expect each and everybody to be fluent in english as we are, probably because of different mothertongue. But yes people who use sms language, should avoid it.
Actually the thing is that sms language is so prevalent these days , that we don't even realise sometimes , when and where we are using it and other reasons could be that most of the people find it easy and quick to communicate. For spelling mistakes I can say that its because of trying to be fast, hardly anybody checks it before posting as you can refer to the above Subject of the post ().
Hope your friends consider this and makes it easy for you and others to read the things.
dips
From India, Delhi
ya that's very true and I guess I got it. Well I really appreciate for your feelings to help other members. You are correct as what you said about using english which is free of grammatical mistakes, slangs and sms language. Now I would not comment on grammar issue because we cannot expect each and everybody to be fluent in english as we are, probably because of different mothertongue. But yes people who use sms language, should avoid it.
Actually the thing is that sms language is so prevalent these days , that we don't even realise sometimes , when and where we are using it and other reasons could be that most of the people find it easy and quick to communicate. For spelling mistakes I can say that its because of trying to be fast, hardly anybody checks it before posting as you can refer to the above Subject of the post ().
Hope your friends consider this and makes it easy for you and others to read the things.
dips
From India, Delhi
Dear Martin and Deepali,
The issue you raised is very important.
The use of mobile and chat language is alarmingly high.
Its high time the moderator checked these usages.
These kind of clangs and languages must be discouraged.
I would also like to add another point that use of regional languages (Hindi etc) in this forum should not be permitted.
Members please make it a point to express your ideas in the best known English you know.
Thanks.
-----
sree
From India, New Delhi
The issue you raised is very important.
The use of mobile and chat language is alarmingly high.
Its high time the moderator checked these usages.
These kind of clangs and languages must be discouraged.
I would also like to add another point that use of regional languages (Hindi etc) in this forum should not be permitted.
Members please make it a point to express your ideas in the best known English you know.
Thanks.
-----
sree
From India, New Delhi
i agree with deepali, i guess we dont realise the use of short forms or slang at times.
probably because some of us are accustomed to it. and well...its faster :oops:
well..i promise to try my best to not write in short forms :)
correct me henceforth
regards,
sunayna
PS : an example of not writing in short forms :wink: . :arrow: this post :)
From India, Mumbai
probably because some of us are accustomed to it. and well...its faster :oops:
well..i promise to try my best to not write in short forms :)
correct me henceforth
regards,
sunayna
PS : an example of not writing in short forms :wink: . :arrow: this post :)
From India, Mumbai
hi,
I agree to some extent with Martin. It can be annoying when people are casually typing away in sms language and using slangs.
But I also do not completely agree with him. You know, using different ways of spelling the word (sms lingo) and using different words, usually created on your own ( slangs) are just a human way of evolving the language. Be it any language, English, Hindi, French, Spanish etc etc. This is how language evolves and we shouldn't be too rigid about sticking to the head fast rules of language either. How else will change or evolution take place???
Language has evolved a long way ever since it was first created. Who says English language has never evolved? Do we still use words like "Thou" , "Shalt" , "Thy". We don't because English language has evolved. And let's not forget that English language itself has evolved from Latin and a few other languages. One who understands and knows Latin, is very likely to have an excellent command over the English Language because he knows the roots of the English language.
And I am a little bothered by Sree's suggestion to avoid using Hindi,a regional language in the forum. Would it be fine if someone suggested avoiding the use of "French" words to have an added impact? What is the reason for creating an added impact? The reason lies solely in creating a greater understanding. If an individual understands better by using his regional language and mixing it with English, then so be it! What's the harm as long as it is aimed at making people understand. Yes, I agree there are people who would not quite understand the matter communicated or some who may end up getting confused, but then, regional languages are not the only ones that do such a thing. If I mixed English with the use of German, obviously, there are people who will be confused, who will misunderstand and some who won't understand at all. The fault, hence, lies not in the Language or the use of it, but in the capability of an individual to understand it. Very few individuals can master or understand more than 4-5 languages and hence, we will always be confused or will not understand or misunderstand the matter being communicated, until "we" put an effort in and "try" to understand what is actually being said. This involves talking to another individual and asking him/her to simplify it for us or tell us what the used word means.
Coming back to Sree's suggestion of "banning" the use of Hindi or any other regional language, we all must never forget that the roots of most languages lie in the mighty language of sanskrit itself! Hindi stems from sanskrit. The English Dictionary will have words whose explaination begins with "a sanskrit word meaning...."
We all must learn to respect every language, for every language within it carries the most powerful tool ever - The Tool to communicate thoughts and ideas, the powerful tool to communicate knowledge. The lack of understanding of a language does not make the language "not fit for use" just like not being able to reach the grapes (by the fox) did not actually make the grapes sour. No language in this world is degrading or low compared to other languages. All languages should, and rightly so, command the respect of every individual in this world. Lot's of people in this forum or in any part of the world may not understand me if I use Tamil (only tamilians will and those who are familiar or know the language), but believe it or not, Tamil is globally and internationally acclaimed to be the most "logical" language ever. Every word in the Tamil language is said to have a logical deduction behind it. I would be disheartened now, if anyone told me not to use this truly great language in this forum or anywhere else merely because quite a whole lot of individuals did not take the effort to learn the language or did not "bother" to even try and know what a particular used Tamil word means.
Let's be a bit more realistic and respectful towards language shall we? The use of sms and slangs is annoying, Martin, because it creates a hindrance in your understanding. Instead of trying to change the way your friends in the forum try to use the language,they do not fully understand, you can make an effort to develop a greater understanding of this evolution of English language. Do you know, there is now even a dictionary available of the various slangs in the English Language? They brought out this dictionary because they recognise that every language evolves, every now and then. You may not use half the words you are using today around 10-15 years from now. That's because any language, name it, shall evolve.
I know you know very well, Martin, that human beings are perfectly capable of "adapting". It is a natural gift... or shall I say a talent bestowed up on all humans. Of course, talent should demand to be used. :)
Hope I have helped in solving your problem by the root, Martin :)
Regards,
Vinisha
P.S. I do not know Tamil or German. The only languages I am fluent in are English and Hindi, though I do know Marathi and Malayalam. And, no offence is meant towards anyone. The entire thing typed above is just my opinion, the way I look at it.
From India,
I agree to some extent with Martin. It can be annoying when people are casually typing away in sms language and using slangs.
But I also do not completely agree with him. You know, using different ways of spelling the word (sms lingo) and using different words, usually created on your own ( slangs) are just a human way of evolving the language. Be it any language, English, Hindi, French, Spanish etc etc. This is how language evolves and we shouldn't be too rigid about sticking to the head fast rules of language either. How else will change or evolution take place???
Language has evolved a long way ever since it was first created. Who says English language has never evolved? Do we still use words like "Thou" , "Shalt" , "Thy". We don't because English language has evolved. And let's not forget that English language itself has evolved from Latin and a few other languages. One who understands and knows Latin, is very likely to have an excellent command over the English Language because he knows the roots of the English language.
And I am a little bothered by Sree's suggestion to avoid using Hindi,a regional language in the forum. Would it be fine if someone suggested avoiding the use of "French" words to have an added impact? What is the reason for creating an added impact? The reason lies solely in creating a greater understanding. If an individual understands better by using his regional language and mixing it with English, then so be it! What's the harm as long as it is aimed at making people understand. Yes, I agree there are people who would not quite understand the matter communicated or some who may end up getting confused, but then, regional languages are not the only ones that do such a thing. If I mixed English with the use of German, obviously, there are people who will be confused, who will misunderstand and some who won't understand at all. The fault, hence, lies not in the Language or the use of it, but in the capability of an individual to understand it. Very few individuals can master or understand more than 4-5 languages and hence, we will always be confused or will not understand or misunderstand the matter being communicated, until "we" put an effort in and "try" to understand what is actually being said. This involves talking to another individual and asking him/her to simplify it for us or tell us what the used word means.
Coming back to Sree's suggestion of "banning" the use of Hindi or any other regional language, we all must never forget that the roots of most languages lie in the mighty language of sanskrit itself! Hindi stems from sanskrit. The English Dictionary will have words whose explaination begins with "a sanskrit word meaning...."
We all must learn to respect every language, for every language within it carries the most powerful tool ever - The Tool to communicate thoughts and ideas, the powerful tool to communicate knowledge. The lack of understanding of a language does not make the language "not fit for use" just like not being able to reach the grapes (by the fox) did not actually make the grapes sour. No language in this world is degrading or low compared to other languages. All languages should, and rightly so, command the respect of every individual in this world. Lot's of people in this forum or in any part of the world may not understand me if I use Tamil (only tamilians will and those who are familiar or know the language), but believe it or not, Tamil is globally and internationally acclaimed to be the most "logical" language ever. Every word in the Tamil language is said to have a logical deduction behind it. I would be disheartened now, if anyone told me not to use this truly great language in this forum or anywhere else merely because quite a whole lot of individuals did not take the effort to learn the language or did not "bother" to even try and know what a particular used Tamil word means.
Let's be a bit more realistic and respectful towards language shall we? The use of sms and slangs is annoying, Martin, because it creates a hindrance in your understanding. Instead of trying to change the way your friends in the forum try to use the language,they do not fully understand, you can make an effort to develop a greater understanding of this evolution of English language. Do you know, there is now even a dictionary available of the various slangs in the English Language? They brought out this dictionary because they recognise that every language evolves, every now and then. You may not use half the words you are using today around 10-15 years from now. That's because any language, name it, shall evolve.
I know you know very well, Martin, that human beings are perfectly capable of "adapting". It is a natural gift... or shall I say a talent bestowed up on all humans. Of course, talent should demand to be used. :)
Hope I have helped in solving your problem by the root, Martin :)
Regards,
Vinisha
P.S. I do not know Tamil or German. The only languages I am fluent in are English and Hindi, though I do know Marathi and Malayalam. And, no offence is meant towards anyone. The entire thing typed above is just my opinion, the way I look at it.
From India,
Vinisha - you are talking sense in my opinion. Why must we impose absolute conformity on users of the forum. As a 46 year old English speaking member (who also tends to write in full sentences), I don't always understand the "sms" references, but I'm happy to accept the diversity this site offers. Who knows? I may learn a bit about sms language.
I've never been too woried about people "shouting" in BLOCK CAPITALS. I just narrow my eyes a little and it keeps the noise down :)
One of the great things about this site for me is reading the contributions from members from other countries (particularly India, Malaysia etc) and realising that in spite of cultural differences, we have a great deal in common, both as human beings and as HR practitioners.
Let's enjoy the diversity as well as the common ground.
From Australia, Ballarat
I've never been too woried about people "shouting" in BLOCK CAPITALS. I just narrow my eyes a little and it keeps the noise down :)
One of the great things about this site for me is reading the contributions from members from other countries (particularly India, Malaysia etc) and realising that in spite of cultural differences, we have a great deal in common, both as human beings and as HR practitioners.
Let's enjoy the diversity as well as the common ground.
From Australia, Ballarat
does this mean that its ok to write short forms again..because writing in full takes a lot of my time and EFFORT..
:wink:
i personally think that there a lot of words in english language, and that they all should be banned.
it makes studying for CAT very difficult.but this is a matter for later discussions.
hey numerouno..i do the same...its annoying but i just figure, probably the person wants to be noticed
:wink:
From India, Mumbai
:wink:
i personally think that there a lot of words in english language, and that they all should be banned.
it makes studying for CAT very difficult.but this is a matter for later discussions.
hey numerouno..i do the same...its annoying but i just figure, probably the person wants to be noticed
:wink:
From India, Mumbai
Hi Martin,
I concur with your views. This is an issue which has been pinching me for quite long on this site - especially the 'sms' type messages (which frankly is pretty irritating - but then tha is my perception!). The sms messages are pretty hard to read and understand (for me once again) and you can't just run through the post easily.
And Slangs, let us please avoid that?
I also do agree with Vinisha's views on respecting every language. This is perfectly fine. But................ putting several core hindi language posts on this kind of a site may not be really the right thing to do? Again it is my perception. But definitely you can't put a ban on using Hindi.
From India, Madras
I concur with your views. This is an issue which has been pinching me for quite long on this site - especially the 'sms' type messages (which frankly is pretty irritating - but then tha is my perception!). The sms messages are pretty hard to read and understand (for me once again) and you can't just run through the post easily.
And Slangs, let us please avoid that?
I also do agree with Vinisha's views on respecting every language. This is perfectly fine. But................ putting several core hindi language posts on this kind of a site may not be really the right thing to do? Again it is my perception. But definitely you can't put a ban on using Hindi.
From India, Madras
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