Double Journal Entry #3

"The Keypad Solution"
 Ammon Shea

 "There is a long and noble history of trying to change the English language’s notoriously illogical system of spelling. The fact that through, rough, dough, plough, hiccough and trough all end with -ough, yet none of them sound the same as any of the others, is the sort of thing that has been vexing poets and learners of English for quite some time" (Shea, para. 1).

    When I first began reading this passage of "The Keypad Solution" I simply laughed out, rather from frustration or pure amazement I am not sure. I found it extremely funny that famous writers and poets wanted and tried to change the form of the English language in a small way. I simply found it utterly absurd. The thoughts that clouded my mind consisted of the hypothetical problems that would arise from such a notion. It would take years and hours upon hours of instruction to reteach an entire population their first language. People would always be second guessing themselves and specifically their spelling. I found the notion to be completely illogical and stupid. But then as I continued to read the passage I was presented a truth. A new accommodation has already been added to the English language; one that is frequently used today. Ammon Shea addresses the fact that millions of people use what is considered "text talk" everyday, and in fact this "text talk" is changing the English language. Even though I do not use this common text talk in my life I know several individuals that do and it surprised me to think that these people; these teenagers are the ones who are reshaping our language, our way of talk after many people have already tried to do that and failed.

"Writing is just like texting except that you have to use all of the letters in each word." Not only is this cartoon relevant to "The Keypad Solution" but it present a very true reality...text talk has almost become a second language, if not a first language to many students.

Shea, Ammon. "The Keypad Solution". The New York Times. EnglishTeachersCartoon1. www.cartoonstock.com