James Cunningham wrote:
>  On 2006-11-20 10:16:19 -0500, stef <na@[...].invalid> said:
>  
> > On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 17:20:29 -0800, Paul Lutus wrote:
> >
> >> stef wrote:
.....
> > as opposed to a chip.
> > Surely, you can make out that "u" = "you", etc....
>  
>  Sure, I *can*, but I'll be less inclined to undertake the effort of 
>  reading something if it makes my eyes bleed. Failing to use proper 
>  English is jarring to me. Most of us grew up reading books; the English 
>  you use is not the English we are used to reading.

Boy, you are going to love this (frightening development, IMHO):

New Zealand students to use 'text-speak' in exams

The Associated Press

New Zealand's high school students will be able to use "text-speak"
-- the mobile phone text message language beloved of teenagers --
in national exams this year, officials said Friday.

Text-speak, a second language for thousands of teens, uses abbreviated
words and phrases such as "txt" for "text", "lol" for "laughing out
loud" or "lots of love," and "CU" for "see you."

The move has already divided students and educators who fear it could
damage the English language.

New Zealand's Qualifications Authority said that it still strongly
discourages students from using anything other than full English, but
that credit will be given if the answer "clearly shows the required
understanding," even if it contains text-speak.

The authority's deputy chief executive for qualifications, Bali Haque,
said students should aim to make their answers as clear as possible.

Confident that those grading papers would understand answers written
in text-speak, Haque stressed that in some exams, including English
-- where good language use is specifically required -- text
abbreviations would be penalized.

Post Primary Teachers' Association President Debbie Te Whaiti said the
authority's move reflects the classroom situation.

"Individual teachers are grappling with it (texting) every day," she
said

Teachers would have concerns if text slang became acceptable in
everyday written language in classrooms, she said.

Critics said the National Certificate of Educational Achievement or
NCEA, the main qualification for high school students, would be
degraded by the authority allowing text speak use in exams.

The minor United Future Party said in a statement: "Untd Futr is
cncernd bout da xeptnce of txt spk 2 b allwd in ritn xams 4 NCEA
(United Future is concerned about the acceptance of text speak to be
allowed in written exams for NCEA)."

"Skoolz r ther 2 educ8 + raze litracy 2 certn standrds (Schools are
there to educate and raise literacy to certain standards," the
statement quoted United Future lawmaker Judy Turner as saying." NCEA
shudnt let da standrd b decidd by informl pop cultr of da time."

High School principal Denis Pyatt said he wouldn't encourage students
to use text abbreviations in exams -- but he was excited by the
language development.

"I think text messaging is one of the most exciting things that has
happened in a long time. It is another development in that wonderful
thing we call the English language," he said.

Internet blogger Phil Stevens was not amused by the
announcement. "nzqa(New Zealand Qualifications Authority): u mst b
joking," Stevens wrote. "or r u smoking sumthg


http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/09/asia/AS_ODD_New_Zealand_Text_Exam.php
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/11/11/nz.text.ap/index.html


EB