How Can I Encourage Better English Writing in Our Multinational HR Forum?

Friends,

I need your help.

There is a fine group of people - I know very few of them personally, but they have much to offer in terms of thoughts and experiences in the area of HR.

We all communicate by internet and a forum - we are all familiar with the technology I think.

Many of the members of this group are from a different country. Many, I think, do not have English as their mother tongue, but I am constantly impressed by their desire to communicate in English - it makes life for an English speaker like me, who has little knowledge of other languages, much easier.

The help I need is in motivating them and helping them improve their written English.

For example, many of them write in the forum using CAPITAL LETTERS LIKE THIS.

I am not sure if they know that generally this carries the additional meaning of SHOUTING. I find it a little annoying (a personal issue for me) to frequently see this. It is also more difficult to read (this is to do with the way the brain and eyes work when reading).

Many of them also seem to write using the language of the mobile phone text message system. Perhaps it is me - being now 38 years old, I use the mobile for making calls and text messages, but I guess my upbringing and schooling are so strong that I cannot bring myself to use the shorthand of the text message system - my text messages are usually in long English!

I need help in trying to motivate the people that post messages to the forum that this is quite a distraction. You see, the forum is not a mobile phone. It is not limited to a few hundred characters when a posting is made. I'm sure these people know this, so why can't they use full English.

Maybe I need help in understanding them also, and what motivates them to use these styles?

I'd also like to help the many who make a posting and make spelling mistakes or use the wrong grammar - I'd like to help them improve the use of written English as much for their own benefit as mine.

So friends, do you have any ideas for how I might achieve all of this?

I wonder how many of you realized just which forum I am talking about...!!!???

Warmest regards to you all,

Martin

Hi Martin,

Yes, that's very true, and I guess I got it. Well, I really appreciate your willingness to help other members. You are correct in saying that using English free of grammatical mistakes, slang, and SMS language is important. I will not comment on grammar issues because we cannot expect everyone to be as fluent in English as we are, possibly due to different mother tongues. However, people who use SMS language should avoid it.

The prevalence of SMS language these days is such that sometimes we don't even realize when and where we are using it. Additionally, many find it easy and quick to communicate using such language. As for spelling mistakes, I can say that they occur because of the need to be fast; hardly anybody checks before posting, as you can see in the subject of the post above.

I hope your friends take this into consideration to make it easier for you and others to read things.

Dips

Dear Martin and Deepali,

The issue you raised is very important. The use of mobile and chat language is alarmingly high. It's high time the moderator checked these usages. These kinds of slangs and languages must be discouraged. I would also like to add another point that the use of regional languages (Hindi, etc.) in this forum should not be permitted. Members, please make it a point to express your ideas in the best English you know.

Thanks.

Sree

I agree with Deepali. I guess we don't realize the use of short forms or slang at times, probably because some of us are accustomed to it. Well... it's faster! Well, I promise to try my best to not write in short forms. Correct me henceforth.

Regards,
Sunayna

PS: An example of not writing in short forms 😉. ➡️ This post 😊.

Hi,

I agree to some extent with Martin. It can be annoying when people are casually typing away in SMS language and using slang.

But I also do not completely agree with him. You know, using different ways of spelling the word (SMS lingo) and using different words, usually created on your own (slang) are just a human way of evolving the language. Be it any language, English, Hindi, French, Spanish, etc. This is how language evolves, and we shouldn't be too rigid about sticking to the steadfast rules of language either. How else will change or evolution take place???

Language has evolved a long way ever since it was first created. Who says the English language has never evolved? Do we still use words like "Thou," "Shalt," "Thy"? We don't because the English language has evolved. And let's not forget that the English language itself has evolved from Latin and a few other languages. One who understands and knows Latin is very likely to have an excellent command over the English language because he knows the roots of the English language.

And I am a little bothered by Sree's suggestion to avoid using Hindi, a regional language in the forum. Would it be fine if someone suggested avoiding the use of "French" words to have an added impact? What is the reason for creating an added impact? The reason lies solely in creating a greater understanding. If an individual understands better by using his regional language and mixing it with English, then so be it! What's the harm as long as it is aimed at making people understand. Yes, I agree there are people who would not quite understand the matter communicated or some who may end up getting confused, but then, regional languages are not the only ones that do such a thing. If I mixed English with the use of German, obviously, there are people who will be confused, who will misunderstand and some who won't understand at all. The fault, hence, lies not in the Language or the use of it, but in the capability of an individual to understand it. Very few individuals can master or understand more than 4-5 languages, and hence, we will always be confused or will not understand or misunderstand the matter being communicated until "we" put an effort in and "try" to understand what is actually being said. This involves talking to another individual and asking him/her to simplify it for us or tell us what the used word means.

Coming back to Sree's suggestion of "banning" the use of Hindi or any other regional language, we all must never forget that the roots of most languages lie in the mighty language of Sanskrit itself! Hindi stems from Sanskrit. The English Dictionary will have words whose explanation begins with "a Sanskrit word meaning..."

We all must learn to respect every language, for every language within it carries the most powerful tool ever - The Tool to communicate thoughts and ideas, the powerful tool to communicate knowledge. The lack of understanding of a language does not make the language "not fit for use" just like not being able to reach the grapes (by the fox) did not actually make the grapes sour. No language in this world is degrading or low compared to other languages. All languages should, and rightly so, command the respect of every individual in this world. Lots of people in this forum or in any part of the world may not understand me if I use Tamil (only Tamilians will and those who are familiar or know the language), but believe it or not, Tamil is globally and internationally acclaimed to be the most "logical" language ever. Every word in the Tamil language is said to have a logical deduction behind it. I would be disheartened now if anyone told me not to use this truly great language in this forum or anywhere else merely because quite a whole lot of individuals did not take the effort to learn the language or did not "bother" to even try and know what a particular used Tamil word means.

Let's be a bit more realistic and respectful towards language, shall we? The use of SMS and slang is annoying, Martin because it creates a hindrance in your understanding. Instead of trying to change the way your friends in the forum try to use the language they do not fully understand, you can make an effort to develop a greater understanding of this evolution of the English language. Do you know, there is now even a dictionary available of the various slangs in the English Language? They brought out this dictionary because they recognize that every language evolves, every now and then. You may not use half the words you are using today around 10-15 years from now. That's because any language, name it, shall evolve.

I know you know very well, Martin, that human beings are perfectly capable of "adapting." It is a natural gift... or shall I say a talent bestowed upon all humans. Of course, talent should demand to be used. :)

Hope I have helped in solving your problem by the root, Martin :)

Regards,

Vinisha

P.S. I do not know Tamil or German. The only languages I am fluent in are English and Hindi, though I do know Marathi and Malayalam. And, no offense is meant towards anyone. The entire thing typed above is just my opinion, the way I look at it.

Vinisha, you are talking sense in my opinion. Why must we impose absolute conformity on users of the forum? As a 46-year-old English-speaking member (who also tends to write in full sentences), I don't always understand the "SMS" references, but I'm happy to accept the diversity this site offers. Who knows? I may learn a bit about SMS language. I've never been too worried about people "shouting" in BLOCK CAPITALS. I just narrow my eyes a little, and it keeps the noise down :)

One of the great things about this site for me is reading the contributions from members from other countries (particularly India, Malaysia, etc.) and realizing that despite cultural differences, we have a great deal in common, both as human beings and as HR practitioners. Let's enjoy the diversity as well as the common ground.

Forgot to add, I hate it when people write in italics. I really don't know why, but it's very annoying. And now, numero uno, don't tell me to bend a little and read.

Hi Martin,

I concur with your views. This is an issue that has been bothering me for quite some time on this site - especially the 'sms' type messages (which frankly are pretty irritating - but then that is my perception!). The SMS messages are pretty hard to read and understand (for me once again), and you can't just run through the post easily.

And slangs, let us please avoid that?

I also agree with Vinisha's views on respecting every language. This is perfectly fine. But... putting several core Hindi language posts on this kind of site may not be the right thing to do? Again, it is my perception. But definitely, you can't put a ban on using Hindi.