A generation of teenagers risk making themselves unemployable because they are using a vocabulary of about 800 words a day, according to the government’s first children’s communication czar.
They are avoiding using a broad vocabulary and complex words in favour of the abbreviated “teenspeak” of text messages, social networking sites and internet chat rooms. Jean Gross, the government’s new adviser on childhood language development, is planning a national campaign to prevent children failing in the classroom and the workplace because of their inability to express themselves.
She said: “Teenagers are spending more time communicating through electronic media and text messaging, which is short and brief. We need to help today’s teenagers understand the difference between their textspeak and the formal language they need to succeed in life — 800 words will not get you a job.” Full story >>
• A lexicon of teenspeak (BBC News)
• Teen speak dictionary for 'rents' (BBC News)
• Parentline Plus Jargon Buster (dictionary of 'teenglish' )