This is an article written by a Journalist in a quality broadsheet which is targeted for the middle class, middle aged and well educated audience. The point of this article is for the middle aged classes to wonder, and be convinced that the use of the abbreviations and made up words by youth and media are ruining the English language. We can tell that the text is targeted to these groups of people as this is a criticism towards the modern language that the youth has created.
This was mostly due to the use of technology in young people's lives, such as texting and computers, chatting and social networks and even the media. Some words include: OMG, meaning "Oh my God" and "meh" which is used as an expression of indifference, "defriending" or "unfriending" expressions derived from Face book. Another example is NEET? s which are the people of society with "no education, employment or training". We also know the target audience as most of the youth would know what these words mean, but the writer explains the meaning of each of these because he knows the middle aged class will not understand.The writer also uses words and expressions which a young or uneducated person would not use such as "an assertion" or "have now wormed their way". The Journalist addresses the youth throughout the whole text and trying to convince the middle aged class that the use of abbreviations and slang words are not favoring the English language.
If a young person were to read this they would feel criticized and offended, as throughout the text the author is blaming the youth the most for the use of these words which in his view are ruining the English language.On the other hand a middle aged person might agree with the writers view. The Journalist is entitled to his own opinion, but as part of the youth, I think that we are not ruining the language as some other professors might agree on the fact that we have great minds, and mental ability to invent words and that is of great merit. The use of abbreviations and ingenious words is not a synonym of an uncultured mind.
Throughout the text the author sounds devastated and unhappy with the use of abbreviations and other words created by the youth and other factors.He even seems very arrogant, and seems like he looks down at the youth, an example is when the journalist writes "the somewhat irritating expressions". A factor that is very interesting is the use of irony during the whole reading of the article, some words include "apparently" and "for those lucky enough". It can also be considered to be sarcasm as it is a form of irony which is intended to be hurtful and used in criticisms. The Journalist also says that some of these words are "bizarre" and "may horrify traditionalists".
At the end the article he makes that point that every few years the dictionary is changed, and new words might be added, but the writer also states that the older words are hardly ever deleting. This has a hidden meaning that he knows that the traditional English is better than the newer versions of it. I believe that people should have an open mind and think that the English language should be changed slightly to suit the modern society, without undermining the integrity of it.
