Question

In contrast to what many older generations believe about texting, discuss McWhorter’s views on the subject. What does he think and why?

Describe the similarities McWhorter draws between speaking and texting.
Explain how “lol” has evolved over the years.
Discuss McWhorter’s purpose for drawing a connection between various individuals from various points in time (i.e. the professor, a schoolteacher, the President of Harvard, a superintendent and a poor man, among others).
What is the last thing McWhorter says he would want to know if he had the ability to go into the future? What would he do with this knowledge?
Patricia Ryan: Don’t insist on English!
What does Ryan say regarding why the reasons for teaching English have changed?
Discuss some of the reasons Ryan explains the TOEFL is unfair.
What point dos Ryan make when she tells the story about two English scientists?
Toward the end of her talk, Ryan talks about Evan Wadongo, a young boy from Kenya who won the Hero’s Award. What did he invent and why?
When Wadongo received his award, he said “The children can lead Africa from…a dark continent, to a light continent.” Why does Ryan find his words to be so significant?

Answer 1

John McWhorter sees texting as an evolution of spoken language and considers it a legitimate form of communication, while Patricia Ryan questions the global dominance of English and the fairness of standardized English tests. Ryan also reflects on the impact of local inventions on cultural significance and narrative.

The question at hand revolves around the views of John McWhorter on texting and its impact, as well as Patricia Ryan's thoughts on the global dominance of the English language and the fairness of standardized English tests such as TOEFL. McWhorter views texting as a form of spoken language and believes that it has evolved into a complex and valid form of communication, drawing similarities to the evolution of 'lol' from a literal acronym to a marker of empathy or tone. Furthermore, he underscores the importance of inclusive language and linguistic evolution by drawing connections between individuals from various points in time and their retorts towards linguistic changes, suggesting that criticising texting may be akin to historical resistance to change in language.

Addressing the reasons for learning English, Patricia Ryan argues that while English was once taught for practical purposes, its teaching has now become more about conforming to a certain standard, often excluding non-native speakers' cultural narratives. She highlights the unfairness of TOEFL, emphasizing that it can inadvertently discriminate against individuals by not taking into account diverse linguistic backgrounds and cultural references that might affect test performance. Ryan shares the story of two English scientists to illustrate how scientific ideas might be lost or undervalued when expressed in languages other than English.

In her talk, Ryan also commends Evan Wadongo, a Kenyan boy who invented a solar lamp to assist children in rural areas with studying after dark. This invention aligns with Wadongo's vision of transforming 'a dark continent, to a light continent,' resonating with Ryan's perspective on the significance of local achievements and narratives, and the importance of embracing linguistic diversity rather than insisting on English hegemony.