Frances Peck took her seat on the Air Canada flight and stared at the seat back in front of her.
She immediately noted that the word “flotation” was spelled incorrectly. A quick inspection, and she realized it was spelled incorrectly on every seat in the plane.
Peck, a professional editor and member of the Editors’ Association of Canada, was on her way to Saskatoon to speak about English standards and whether this language we all know and love is being degraded by texters, bloggers and, apparently, Air Canada sign makers.
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The many people who send and receive text messages by cell phone will know the shorthand involved, when “you” is shortened to “u” and “thank you” becomes “ty.”
Do these texters even know how to spell, we ask each other? Will the language go to hell in a handcart, to use an antiquated expression, as texting continues to spread?
When any near illiterate can write and post a blog on the worldwide web, without regard for spelling or grammar, will English devolve into a sliver of its former breadth and depth?
And because English is the language of business and advertising and diplomacy and even music, will all the millions of users result in a general lowering of standards?
No, says Peck.
Every generation in recent history has voiced fears of ever-lower English standards, she notes. With a little research, one can find examples from past centuries when scholars decried the decline of grammar, spelling and proper usage due to misuse by the modern generation of the day.
So when was this golden age of English, when the language was always so perfectly rendered, Peck asked a group of editors.
The answer, of course, is never.
In the 21st century, there are more English speakers and English users than ever before. Literacy rates are higher than they’ve ever been. English is the lingua franca of the modern age.
And thus it will evolve to meet the needs of users.
This will not result in lower standards across the board, says Peck. She believes that the more prevalent a language, the greater the demand for basic standards. That way it remains understandable to the widest possible range of users.
As for the “scourge” of texting, that particular medium is arguably a more successful means of communication than certain government news releases – not that we’d recommend that Parliament start communicating via text. There is a limit to everyone’s patience, after all.
So, onward and upward with English. And “ty” for your patience.
