Speak English

I am having real problems posting tonight. My messages keep disappearing into limbo. Mr Edwards; I do have a reasonable grasp of the history of the english language having studied English Literature from Chaucer to the 19th Century. I read middle english slowly with a dictionary and also speak a little German (very badly). I do not in anyway decry the loss of gendering of nouns as it made the language more versatile and fluid. I do rather regret the loss of the familiar in day to day conversation as "thee" and "thou" are softer and friendlier sounding. Use of the familiar lasted well into the 19th century particularly among Quaker groups by the way. Also we speak the same language that Shakespeare wrote in. Modern English, some words have ceased to be used some new words have been invented but it's the same langauge. I would bet someone from today could get by in Shakespeares London. My problem is not with the ever shifting face of english but with the misuse of the language. Mispellings, incorrect use of words that demonstrates a failure to understand the real meaning and grammar so bad that statements can mean the opposite of what was intended. I have no problem with the use of precisionist langauge and this includes the issue of SMS english that has been discussed here. In my humble opinion use of SMS abbreviations in normal conversation or even in posts here is laziness. Life's too short to stuff a mushroom www.tonymoore.id.au