As in keeping with the tradition of this Blog, the new WOW word of the week is going to be special one due to my failure to include one in my last post therefore inspiring me to up the antsy a little bit. The word ‘lashings’ is a homographic word that in this case is synonymous with the noun of “Lavish Quantities.” An apt usage of this word could be, “I enjoy reading Joshua’s Blog as he provides a lashing variety of posts that are respectively entertaining in a unique way.” 

The Topic of this weeks blog post; similar to my last week’s post is another creative task but this is time unlike my inspired ‘Kanyesque’ style of language I will be writing a Letter to the Editor. The subject of this letter will be none other than the topic of “Text Speak,” and will be in response to an article published by the Daily Mail.

To the Editor,

            In the article titled “Text Speak”, you have discussed and examined the shortcomings that are formed as a result of ‘text speak’ amongst students.  This case, which is a topic of much debate has been argued with bias affording much evidence to the argument that condemns the use of text speak, while not acknowledging the benefits that have be found as a result of this phenomenon. Therefore as a result of this I would like to offer a counter argument in response to this article.

An avid believer in the art of Text Speak, I myself am a teenager who makes full use of this “Speak” when interacting online or in any other social context. The root of this issue can be derived from the arrival of technology and the fusion between both Language and Technology, which took place during the end of the 20^th Century. Technology has had a positive impact on language; the acronyms and abbreviations of words and phrases, inaugurated through its use over time may be a violation of the various rules that define the English Language however it has further accentuated one of the key qualities intrinsic to the English language, accessibility. This “text speak” which is appropriated to Social Media has connected individuals in ways proper English can’t. These recent deviations of words, though frowned upon do not impede upon communication but instead enhance it. David Crystal, a great linguist was quoted saying, that in order for students to purposefully leave out letters in a word they must actually know what all the letters are! In this way it can be assumed that “text speak” is a tactful extension of the English language appropriated to a social/casual register.

I hope this extenuated antithesis provides an alternate outlook opening up this topic to the interpretation of others instead of confining it to finite categorizations.

Regards Joshua Toor (A Student fully capable of still writing competently)

West Is Best

The following is an excerpt from the self-acclaimed memoirs of Artist Kanye West. Titled, “West is Best,” the following passage is in regards to the struggle Kanye faced during the time in which he took in his influence from solely being directed towards music aiming to extend his grasp in to other forms of artistry:

            Once I became a rapper, all those round’ me was tellin me that all I was gonna be was a rapper. But the thing is I don’t consider myself to be JUST a rapper, I mean my area of influence and expertise extends way beyond human comprehension! I am an artist of not just music , but art in all its entirety. I refuse to become a label or become what society has labeled me to be, nah I make my own decisions that shape society to be the way I want it to be! You see the media and paparazzi have this conniving quality from which they have projected me to be something I’m not. My worth and potential is something that cannot be verbalized. Growing up in Georgia I wasn’t a celebrity and nor was I rich, but I had talent. My songs have been about inspiring my community to rise up. To not shy from this ‘heartless’ society but instead try, make mistakes but keep going cause ‘that, that don’t kill you, makes you stronger.’ Society is afraid of me, cause once I get in my zone, there aint no stopping me. That’s why I consider myself to be a Steve jobs or even a Bill Gates. You see people mistake my confidence for arrogance when in reality they just jealous because I know who I am and no one can devalue my identity. I’m a dreamer and my goal is to make my dreams a reality. And once that happens I keep dreamin cause their isn’t an end to the level at which I can dream. Like a Da Vinci or a Van Gogh my ideas may not be appreciated now but my creative expression is one that will last for years to come! So when the media scrutinize me or celebrities mock me, it doesn’t faze me cause they aren’t on my level. I am unbound, free of standardized socio-economic statuses, cause I worked my way up from the ground all the way up past the stratosphere. And up here I can’t be held down cause gravity ain’t got no hold on me. My people once bound by slavery broke free and never looked back, in the same way once they realize who they can be; our community will rise far beyond any preconceived notions or expectations. The voice of a generation suppressed by cruel intentions, but up from the ashes emerge lyrics of forgotten passion, no more cries or sighs, a desire that cannot die, to succeed, to thrive beyond what’s expected. We aint running dry but we be flying high on a culture that is respect and excellence, and once we touch the sky, to the world we lived in we say goodbye cause once we usher in the future, just like my niggas in Paris, we be goin bananas!

*Note the verbal and grammatical style of the passage is based of my interpretation of Kanye West’s writing style. Loosely based of his appearance in interviews and the way in which his songs are written and structured: inarticulate yet free and clear.