With the omnipresence of the communication tools, widespread and used by the majority of people, arises the question of how we're communicating. Very often, we just want to make ourselves understood, but because of the rush in which we all live, we're using more and more shorthand writings or acronyms, so we can say what we want quick, without losing much time. We're more and more familiar now with terms like: lol (laughing out loud) or brb (be right back) or gtg (got to go) and similar Internet and SMS acronyms.
A problem arising here is the grammatical errors found in our messages. I'm not talking about typos caused by the speed, but about real spelling errors and weak style and incorrect grammar...
Ok! my question is:
While chatting, is it wrong to correct someone's grammar? will it look like we're patronizing our conversational partner(s)? Will that offend them?
There are some clear situations where it's all right to correct someone's grammar without hesitation:
(1) when you're a teacher correcting a student,
(2) when you're coaching a non-native speaker who's asked for help,
(3) when someone has specifically asked for assistance...
But very often, the situation is not as clear of these mentioned above. Chatting is usually an informal conversation, but, at the same time, sometimes errors can be a source of misunderstandings.
What's the right thing to do here?
I guess that if you point out a language errors in the right way, no one has to get hurt or humiliated. It's important to make sure you don't talk down to someone while you're correcting their grammar or spelling. Besides, if one wants to correct "correctly," then one must do it in private.
Personally, I correct my friends much more easily than persons I barely know. Often I do it with a wink, or act like I misunderstood, so it'll be a hint to review what was written. I admit that some friends find this "habit" a little annoying, and they make so much fun of me when then find mistakes in my messages (yes, they do find mistakes, quite often I must say!)... They laugh and say "Mister know-it-all needs help!"
Yes, of course I need help... and all contributions are very much appreciated.
What would you do?
1 comment:
Hello Mr. Perfecto :D,,
I am sure I am listed among those with several typos, spelling mistakes, and grammaticalerrors. The truth is, my friend, being limited to a one hour or two in an internet café is a very oppressing thought. So, I tend to finish what I have planned to do in a quick way; the result is: a sea of mistakes for others to correct or to misunderstand!! :)
According to me, I find it very shameful for sometimes I scribble a common mistake, which is something that a teacher of the English Language should not fall in. Yet, I am not perfect. :-)
I remember an embarrasing incident: three years ago, I was having a chat wih my little student in grade 7 (about 12 years old). I misused a verb in the perfect tense (instead of writing the second verb in past participle, I wrote it in simple past). He caught the mistake and started bragging about beating his teacher. The next day in school I discovered that he has told all the students about the mistake!! I took it in a very simple way and laughed with him;I had even added for him a mark for his attentiveness ;-)
But this incident taught me to block/delete all my students... hehehehe ...
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Anyway ..
Back to your subject.
Your words are very much appreciated.
Yet, I have discovered 4 mistakes in your essay.
Can you check them , Digger?
;-D
"Loving you each passing day"
J.
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