My summer hols wr CWOT. B4, we usd 2 go 2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3:-@ kids FTF ILNY, its gr8. Can you understand this sentence? If you can't, don't feel too bad: neither could the middle school teacher in England who received this as homework. This is Net speak: the language of computerized communication found on Internet or cell phones. To newcomers, it can look like a completely foreign language. So, what is the "translation" of the sentence above? My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend, and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York; it's great. Schoolteachers and parents say this new form of writing is harming the English language. Increasing spelling and grammatical mistakes can be seen in students' writing. They fear the language could become corrupted . Everyone should just relax, say linguists . They believe Net speak is in fact more of a good thing. David Crystal, from the University of Wales, argues that Net speak and Internet create a new language use and the almost lost art of diary writing has been picked up again. Geoffrey Nurnberg, from Stanford University, agrees. "People get better at writing by writing," he says, "Kids who are now doing text messages, e-mail, and instant messages will write at least as well as, and possibly better than, their parents." Linguist James Milroy says, for centuries, it is believed without exception that young people are harming the language. And you can bet your bottom dollar that when today's teenagers become tomorrow's parents, they too will think this way. Milroy argues that languages do not and cannot become "corrupted"; they simply change to meet the new needs. However, Net speakers do agree that it is important to teach young people how to speak and write Standard English. Cynthia McVey says, "I can understand Net speak worries teachers and it's important that they get across to their pupils that text messaging is for fun, but that learning to write proper English is a must for their future." Perhaps we should give teenagers a little more trust anyway. Erin, age 12, says, "I wouldn't use text language in my homework. Texting is just for fun". QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. What is the student's vacation destination?
2. Where does the student take a trip?
3. 
Q2:
1. What language do teens enjoy using?
2. What way of talking is popular amongst teenagers?
3. 
Q3:
1. Who does the teen visit on vacation?
2. Who does the boy take a trip to see?
3. 
Q4:
1. Does the teen enjoy going to New York?
2. Does visiting New York make the student happy?
3. 
Q5:
1. Who is a professor in Wales?
2. What is the name of the professor from Wales?
3. 
Q6:
1. What is the name of the person from Stanford?
2. Who is a professor at Stanford?
3. 
Q7:
1. How does Geoffrey Nurnberg feel about Netspeak?
2. What is the opinion of Geoffrey Nurn of internet speak?
3. 
Q8:
1. What does James Milroy do for a living?
2. How is James Milroy employed?
3. 
Q9:
1. Why does Erin talk in Net speak?
2. What purpose does internet speak serve for Erin?
3. 
Q10:
1. What does gr8 translate to?
2. What is gr8 short for?
3. 
Q11:
1. In what context does Erin refrain from using Netspeak?
2. When does Erin choose not to use Netspeak?
3. 
Q12:
1. How old is Erin?
2. What is Erin's age?
3. 
