Destroying Avalon

1. Destroying Avalon Please spend 5 minutes starting a front page for this unit. You will need to complete this for homework!

2. Learning Intentions We’ll look at ‘textese’ and how it underlines the fact that the English language is a living thing which is changing all the time We’ll look at the sort of abbreviations we all use in text messages, on Facebook and in emails, and which we’ll come across in “Destroying Avalon”

3. Introduction Destroying Avalon is a novel which requires us to have some understanding of the sorts of abbreviations we often use in text messages and emails. (Fortunately, you guys know all about this sort of thing!) We know this because the very first page of the book provides a translation of 20 such abbreviations that we will eventually come across in the novel.

4. Quiz On the next page of your workbook, write the heading “Textese” and silently write down the following 10 abbreviations, then write down the meaning in full for each abbreviation . . .

5. Newspaper article

6. Newspaper article Question: Do you think “textese” makes you better at reading and writing? Or worse? Or neither? Explain your opinion.

7. Task 1: Translate the following text into normal English . . . O hart that sorz My luv adorz He mAks me liv He mAks me giv Myslf 2 him As my luv porz (by Eileen Bridge)

8. Task 2: Translate the following extract into “textese”: You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sites! You’ll join the high fliers! Who soar to high heights. (from “Oh! The Places You’ll Go” by Dr Seuss)