Dante Robinson
HON 211
IDAW Outline
I.
Introduction
a. Though many people may resent such a statistic, a study shows that
58% of teachers believe mobile phones and computers are
responsible for children being unable to spell as well as previous
generations. This is one of many concerns regarding the link between
technology and it’s importance over basic skills, particularly language.
Now what’s the first thing you do when you get on a computer?
Facebook. Everyone’s got one, even kids.
b. I dream a world where the growth of technology is not more
important than the basic, correct use of language.
c. More emphasis is placed on websites like Facebook and twitter than
the importance of the ability to speak proper grammar and use words
correctly.
II.
Body
a. Prevalence of social networking
i. These days, people spend more time in front of a screen,
checking their Facebook than in front of a book.
ii. PCMagazine states that 51% of Americans ages 12 and up have
a Facebook. Many of these users spend more time online than
they spend doing anything else.
iii. I have many times caught myself procrastinating schoolwork
because I have to check a Facebook status/Twitter update, or
something of that nature. Everyone, at some point falls victim
to the lure of social networking.
iv. These trends are not dangerous until they begin to consume
time that could be used productively. Unfortunately, this is
often the case.
v. Trends such as stylized text language and accepted, idiomatic
abbreviations may, in part, have a direct link to the poor use of
language among networkers.
b. Poor use of language
i. Communication is one of the most important factors in human
relationships. A healthy sense of communication is defined by
an accurate employment of semantics and the ability to relay
messages correctly. In today’s society, it is rare to find anyone
who does not misuse the English language in any way.
ii. Americans are constantly taking for granted the very basis
upon which our language was built. Most people cannot tell the
difference between adjectives and adverbs, while some don’t
even know how to define an adverb. Also, many people display
a poor use of terminology. Society allows words to assume
warped connotations derived from vague synonyms. In other
words, word A may share a meaning with word B, while word
B shares a meaning with word C. This is convenient until
people are using word Z in place of word A, though they share
no meaning. Take, for example, the word sweet. Denotatively,
we think of a sweet taste like sugar. However, the term is often
used to describe something we find interesting or enjoyable.
This slang term may be derived by the positive connotation we
take from a sweet taste, and so loosely connect it to any
positive emotion. Or the word “sick.” I even use this. Sick is
used similarly to “sweet,” though sick naturally has a negative
connotation. We can only imagine how this word has been lost
in translation.
iii. I personally hear at least ten-grammar mistakes everyday.
Some will tell you how good they did on their final. Or maybe
your friends tell you how school, “literally takes up all of their
time.” When in actuality, that’s impossible.
III.
Conclusion
a. It is important that people who are, if I may be so bold to say,
“addicted” to Facebook, or other social networking sites, recognize
their own misplaced emphasis.
b. While many can manage between updating their status, and actually
employing correct English while doing so, there are others who
cannot do so well. This is an issue that is only growing and should
receive more attention before the problem is exacerbated.
c. While the advancement of technology is for the most part positive, the
addiction to social networking is seemingly more popular than the
ability to display an adequate understanding of the English language,
and this should not be the case.
d. There is an indisputable relationship between this addiction and the
undermining of things like grammar and diction, when every word is
abbreviated, and certain terms become stylized, despite their misuse.
The idea that the former is more important to most is an issue that
can only be addressed by its victims.