The test of language
Occasionally I let some of the children who live in my block play on my Nintendo Wii (what an awesome console).
On the weekend four of us were playing "Mario Kart Wii". One of the best games available for the Wii.
I heard one of the children say, when they were knocked off the track "you suck!". Now that is something I say so I know where they got it from, and I do not think it particularly inappropriate to say that.
But hearing them say it brings a whole new perspective on it. I do not think it something a child should say. It sounds totally different hearing a seven year old say those words!
So it lead me to thinking about a new principle for driving what is appropriate language, and that is to ask, would I be happy for a child to say it? Because that is the true test of language purity.
On the weekend four of us were playing "Mario Kart Wii". One of the best games available for the Wii.
I heard one of the children say, when they were knocked off the track "you suck!". Now that is something I say so I know where they got it from, and I do not think it particularly inappropriate to say that.
But hearing them say it brings a whole new perspective on it. I do not think it something a child should say. It sounds totally different hearing a seven year old say those words!
So it lead me to thinking about a new principle for driving what is appropriate language, and that is to ask, would I be happy for a child to say it? Because that is the true test of language purity.
posted by Michael Wiles at 2:57 pm
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