I love to read. I read voraciously as a child. When books were being chosen for book reports, teachers would try to steer me away from my selections, afraid I was overly ambitious. They'd chide me when they saw me reading some other book halfway through the designated reading time, asking why I wasn't reading my assigned book. Then they'd be shocked to know that I had finished the assigned book and was reading something new.
In fifth grade, I won the spelling bee for my elementary school. Not because I practiced, but because I read constantly. I hardly ever had to study spelling words because I'd already encountered them numerous times in the books I read.
But now, much of my reading is online. And it doesn't matter whether you're reading newspapers, magazines, websites, or blogs, it seems that online, spelling doesn't matter anymore.
I try to fight the culture, but it is very pervasive. I try to spell correctly whether I'm writing a technical document or typing with my thumbs to send a text message. But now I find myself uncertain of the spelling for simple words. They just don't look right. And I know it's because I've seen them butchered so many ways that there is no consistent image in my head for how they should look.
So to answer my own question, Yes, reading, at least reading online, does make me stupid.
4 comments:
L'wing,
I read a book last year (the name of which I can't recall, rats!) in which the author discussed the reason cultures have "forms." Most of us bristle when we hear "formal" and "formality", especially in regards to dress codes, dinner affairs, personal interactions, etc. it seems too stuffy and false to address one another as "Mr. and Mrs.", or to have to wear a tuxedo to a dinner where the place settings include five forks and three spoons.
BUT there are very good reasons for forms and formality, especially when it comes to communication- written, visual, musical or other. Operating within a form ensures that everyone understands what is being communicated. There is a common "form" to the way words are spelled and sentences constructed. The "formal" elements to a painting allow the viewers to grasp what it is the artist is conveying.
it helps the "speaker" to communicate clearly and it helps the "listener" to understand that communication.
There's a friend I've known for 20 years whose handwriting is flat-out atrocious. Never in my life have I been able to understand what she's written on the first read. She's got a post-graduate degree. She is not stupid. She recently sent me a note which I asked my kids to read. No dice. They were clueless.
(Yep, time for the homeschooling mom to preach. ;) "It does not matter what brilliant thoughts you have to say to the world; if no one can read what you write, you might as well be a door knob.")
The spelling shortcuts and recent blending of the written word (fonts) and visual art/advertising poses an interesting crossroads doesn't it? When is it ok to give form the boot in order for art (or text messaging convenience) to prevail?
Interesting comments. I like the idea of forms. There are very few truly blank slates as long as we have a common set of forms.
The impetus for my post was an article I was reading, online, from Wired magazine. I am a subscriber and consider it a good magazine. The article stated that "visibility is a very important tenant of bicycle safety" (emphasis mine).
I was appalled, but I find it everywhere now.
By the way, I can't read my own handwriting when written in cursive. That's why I started writing in all caps over 20 years ago.
I think penmanship as a taught subject was going out of vogue when I was learning to write cursive. I don't remember receiving a lot of instruction there.
So I print.
Use Firefox. It tells you when you're misspelling.
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