Cyber Slang vs. Written Language

Technology makes the world go round.  Individuals especially Americans are attached to their Iphones, Ipads, laptops etc as if it was their child. These devices carry everything from the next soccer game or birthday to pictures that could last a life time. Cellular devices are most popular and are amongst the most familiar way to communicate with someone without having to be face to face with them.

   From the time we are a child and through our teenage years we are taught how to write precisely and show we are fluent with the language and syntax. Teachers work day in and day out trying to perfect each child’s abilities with hopes that they will show succession throughout their lives. Technology is getting in the way though. Millions of text messages are sent each day and most people, especially teenagers can type an abundance of words a minute without any real effort, but when it comes down to writing a scholarly paper for a class or other activities, the process is much more difficult and causes much stress.

      Texting and social media networks don’t require full sentences or correct grammar therefore it is not applied. Most teenagers say “k” for okay or “gtg” for I have go.  Or for an even bigger eye sore, sentences are written as “where u at” or “im gonna be there soon” without any capital letters or punctuation marks. This may be useful for small talk but in reality it is not acceptable.  This phenomenon of “cyber slang” has swept the nation, and it has affected many people, including myself. Your brain is habitually trained to shorten up words and sentences when texting, tweeting , commenting etc and then you get your first term paper and you feel as if you’re a young child again, confused on how to spell or write words in a sentence. From personal experiences, not only does this cause a problem for average students but for students in the advanced proficient classes as well. Writing exemplar papers is supposed to show your progress and succession throughout college, in order for you to earn your degree and live a successful life, but if the cyber slang continues, we will have less educated people in  the world, in which will result in a extravagant, detrimental issue.

   The only solution is to stop using technology as much… but how is that possible when a new form of technology used for communication is invented each and every day…Have you fallen into the trap of the “cyber slang users”?

Nicholas Sparks

        The most recent and popular films/ novels are all based on similar aspects. One may be comprised with a girl who dies from cancer, and through her last struggling months she falls in love with the bad boy at school, or another may be a girl who is abused and runs away and eventually ends up with the guy of her dreams. All of these scenarios fall under the category of “chick flick”, in which has the intention to bring out the “inner girl” in everyone including crying, laughing, gossiping and lots of junk food. Whether someone is 14 or 46, these stories are being heard and bringing in the fame and fortune. As there are many authors that have written “feminine” books, Nicholas Sparks is among the best. He is mostly known for his works, The Notebook, The Last Song, Dear John and A Walk to Remember. Every one of his stories captivates your mind and heart, with each ending to allow feelings of happiness for the characters and sadness as well because you feel as they have become a part of you and will now disappear.

              Although Nicholas Spark’s is always put in the category of Romance, he believes his work should be defined with much more. In a recent interview with Sparks he stated “It's the difference between Cinderella and Romeo and Juliet. Cinderella is a classic - it's what the romance genre is: a fantasy, romantic escape. That's not what I do. I do Romeo and Juliet. Love and romance are a part of it, but so is the rest of the range of human emotion. And sadness is part of that and can come in different forms.” He is trying to get his audience to realize that yes; he writes about love and happiness but also wants his audience to feel the other emotions that go along with loving someone. Not everything will always be rainbows and butterflies in a relationship or companionship.  In correlation ”it is important to understand the link between love and tragedy: all great love stories, by definition, have to end in tragedy. The greater the love, the greater the tragedy when one of them dies.”  Sharing this input on his writing shows that he is not just about coming up with showy, fake stories with the fairytale ending. He writes stories based on scenarios that are very frequent or possible to happen in our everyday lives, in which leaves such a great affect on the audience.

               As I mentioned his writing skills very specifically, his skills in film making are a noticeable feature as well. When questioned about his books verse his movies he replied “What a lot of people really don't know is that in many ways the novels are just as powerful as the films. You can watch The Notebook, and love The Notebook, and look at the book and think to yourself, "I don't have to read that because I saw the film" or "I already know the story, so the book won't move me the way it did" - and yet it will. It's the same thing with The Last Song. I don't care if you've seen the film, the book is worth reading. I made them purposefully different.” By creating and adding different details in his books and movies, he’s giving an interesting and impressive effect that most authors cannot master. He wants the same message to be portrayed throughout each but doesn’t want to keep his followers from sticking to one over the other. It may seem stereotypical, but Nicholas really captures a girls mind and brings out every emotion he can. I have read many of his works and will continue my journey as he continues his writing career. I mean I have never met a girl who hasn’t dreamed about being the girl in his novels, who are always being saved by the beautiful guy, and steals the key to her heart.

The Following

         What comes to mind when you think of a show that is intense, suspenseful and also jaw dropping? Well for me, it is The Following created by Kevin Williamson. It revolves around the main character, Joe Carroll and his insane sense of living.  He is an English professor that is intrigued by the dark, mysterious, scary works of poet Edgar Allen Poe.  From Poe’s poems, Carroll comes to the conclusion that a woman suffering and dying is one of the most beautiful scenes and decides to kill them himself, becoming a nationwide serial killer. The big catch though… He isn’t alone!  Carroll comes into contact with other active serial killers and trains them to be his “groupies”, in which they follow his every command, continuing his plan to kill women. The FBI is heavily involved in this case, especially Ryan Hardy (head agent) who risks everything he has to keep Claire Matthews, Joe’s wife and  also his  long lost lover, and her son Joey safe from the dangerous world they are living in. Every scene is full of blood, gun shots, and cries for help from innocent people in desperate measures. What would you do if this scenario was occurring in your neighborhood?

            The scene of criminals being chased, and agents finding the evidence to figure out the case has always sparked my interest, but The Following has brought out another level of interest. It is the type of show that when it comes to a commercial break, your head is spinning, begging for more. The most significant part about the show is the continuous, twists and turns throughout every episode. You may think you have gathered enough clues to figure out where Joe Carroll or his followers are but then BAM! Something else comes in the way, leaving your mind in utter despair. For Instance, in the season one finale Ryan Hardy had just returned to his apartment in New York along with Claire Matthews feeling more at peace with the situation, allowing the audience to catch a breather as well. Then all of a sudden an attractive woman, one of Hardy’s other lovers, also a neighbor of Hardy has mysteriously snuck into the apartment, stabbing Ryan and Claire in the back. There is only one explanation for this… She is part of Carroll’s clan, and could it be that she is jealous that Ryan has moved on to a bigger and better life with another woman? You never know who or what Joe Carroll’s next victim is and it won’t easily be identified.  The character and plot development that Williamson has created is one of a pure writing   genius, and one other writer should look up to. There are two rules when watching this show: Get your thinking caps on and be prepared for the thrill of a life time!