ebonics

[toys2cool]

yeah that's exactly it,the text messaging thing.Looks like that Idiocracy movie thing my be coming true after all

[huedell]

Not a big fan of the "ebonics" altho' my grammar on and off the page is far from perfect
--- STILL sometimes with some people I feel like I'm listening to the jive talkin' dudes
from the AIRPLANE movie and it gets annoying

[Adam West]

ebonics

noun
a nonstandard form of American English characteristically spoken by African Americans in the United States

Is this just a politically correct way of saying poor grammar spoken predominantly by African Americans but acceptable? Seriously, ebonics has no meaning to me. Poor grammar is poor grammar regardless of race. I hear all races use nonstandard forms of American English whether it's poor grammar, slang, etc.

There is definitely a trend going on with younger adults that I find disturbing. There are many college educated young adults entering the work force who don't seem to know how to write a professional email or speak in a professional manner or even to distinguish when it is appropriate to do so.

I have a 25 year old employee working for me who sends out what are supposed to be professional emails that reach the highest level of management in our organization including the CEO, COO, etc. They read like text messages, are very informal, and are filled with emoticons. In short, they are unprofessional. I have attempted to coach this employee on the difference between a professional email and a non-professional email as well as when it would be appropriate to use one vs. the other. She looks at her emails with all seriousness and has no clue that the smiley faces and the text message short hand are not professionally written.

I also just came out of a meeting with a young auditor who was asking some questions of senior management. Everytime, someone would answer, he would say "cool" or "right on" and even though he doesn't work for me I just don't understand what is considered professional writing or speaking anymore.

[mitchedwards]

I saw hardygirl's post in another thread and it got me thinking, kids today are speaking more and more slang than ever before. I have a student who I don't think has completed a proper sentence this year. I hear stuff like "I be fogettin da homework Mista A (He is too damn lazy to pronounce my last name, Adanosky)". I see more and more every school year.

I read the text messaging is playing a big part in this as well. Kids are turning in papers using the spelling they would use in a text message.

[txteach]

I saw hardygirl's post in another thread and it got me thinking, kids today are speaking more and more slang than ever before. I have a student who I don't think has completed a proper sentence this year. I hear stuff like "I be fogettin da homework Mista A (He is too damn lazy to pronounce my last name, Adanosky)". I see more and more every school year.