Abbreviations in the Web- also in schools? Part2

Teenagers make use of abbreviations in an excessive way in text messages and in the Web. Many people fear that students may transfer them to academic writing. Nevertheless, as I pointed out in the previous posting, the use of writing shortcuts is not a phenomenon restricted to teenagers; adults also make use of them. The 2 cartoons that I’m uploading here take a humorous look at the use of abbreviations in schools but this time not as produced by teenage students but teachers.

This picture is a parody of the supposed way in which teenagers write. The humorous effect is achieved by a reversal of expectations. Any person would expect students rather than teachers to spell words this way.

In the second picture, we see exemplified one of the reasons why people use abbreviations: To economize on words and effort. We live in an era where a high value is attached to instantaneity. Thus, shorthand writing is successful because they epitomize immediacy. However, although the use of abbreviations is gaining more and more ground, I am of the opinion that they will never spoil the quality of academic writing. I do believe in the capacity of people to discern between internet slang and language appropriate to the more formal educational setting. If students were to start using abbreviations inadvertently at schools, we can use each of these instances as a "teachable moment", as an opportunity to teach the differences between formal and informal writing. I believe teachers will never let their use become naturalised.

They are humorous, aren’t they? Of course, they are not humorous at all if we believe they are possible snapshots of future classrooms. They are humorous to me because I believe that abbreviations cannot and will not conquer classrooms never ever. To think that either students or teachers may start using them interchangeably in any context is to underestimate the intelligence and the capacity of discernment in the choice of appropriate language in the different situations.