tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post953097347860119601..comments2024-03-10T01:18:18.094-08:00Comments on Elise Fallson: The Dumbing Down of Childrens BooksElise Fallsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14734537117333738468noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-71565454228600856492013-08-19T02:16:13.442-07:002013-08-19T02:16:13.442-07:00I think in part it is because it has become more i...I think in part it is because it has become more important to help kids succeed than to learn. And what better short cut than dumbing things down. Sad really.Sheena-kay Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17712661419116636671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-22367901870994663792012-08-23T10:54:01.107-07:002012-08-23T10:54:01.107-07:00might be wandering slightly off topic but I think ...might be wandering slightly off topic but I think there has been a great Deterioration in YA literature over the last few years too ... i mean twilight and the hunger games etc just seem awful to me compared to say Harry Potter ... but then maybe that's just the fact that I'm not a YA anymore :(D.S Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05728147137615364984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-19542599694507874022012-08-19T07:30:31.477-07:002012-08-19T07:30:31.477-07:00Hi Lexa. I actually prefer the first version. The ...Hi Lexa. I actually prefer the first version. The "like flying, my jumping will be" is more poetic and no, no one talks like that today unless you're Yoda, but I feel kids should be open to that kind of wording. The "sig" word Eyore is referring to is "significance." A "big" word to use for todays young readers but really is shouldn't be. The second example is certainly much easier to understand but I find unnecessary repetition (ex: Just to be on the safe side )and I don't find it challenges young readers or stretches their vocabulary like in the first. But that's just my opinion. (: <br />Elise Fallsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14734537117333738468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-19493154806623154412012-08-18T21:56:32.911-07:002012-08-18T21:56:32.911-07:00I can't even understand some of the phrases in...I can't even understand some of the phrases in the first Pooh selections, like: <i>"Like flying, my jumping will be."</i> Who talks like that? <i>"I shouldn't be surprised if it hailed a good deal tomorrow,"</i> (Oh, I just got that he meant hail as in snow, not hail as in signal--well, it wasn't clear), and what is the "sig--" word he doesn't know? It sounds like 80-yr-old British men talking between cigar puffs.<br /><br />I found the other "dumbed-down" selections beautiful, rhythmic, and easy on the ear.<br /><br />However, I do worry about dumbing things down too much when people say I can't put "trepidation" in my YA novel 'cause teens won't understand it...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735576044552810103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-85736963253813335942012-08-16T04:06:40.029-07:002012-08-16T04:06:40.029-07:00Cherie: If the language becomes too simplified, th...Cherie: If the language becomes too simplified, then how can we properly communicate complex emotions/ideas? I think children need to learn a rich vocabulary before simplyfing...<br /><br />Michelle: I agree, language does change over time. LOL and ROFLMAO is not something my parents are familiar with. I just hope we don't short hand our children by underestimating them. Elise Fallsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14734537117333738468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-70245448657229008752012-08-15T12:18:16.352-07:002012-08-15T12:18:16.352-07:00An interesting observation, Elise.
I think it'...An interesting observation, Elise. <br />I think it's linked to the fact that language changes over time... new words that may have been deemed unacceptable in the past, are incorporated into the language as it evolves (for example, certain colloquialisms/slang words that may have been taboo, are now part of standard vocabulary) <br />All this is also influenced by literacy trends which work hand-in-hand with technological advancements. <br />All-in-all, I think we underestimate the kids and tend to lean more towards easier, "spoon-feeding" methods instead of challenging those little brains... stretching them to the max... Michelle Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02750092836481599870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-55309994952126765842012-08-15T11:58:25.045-07:002012-08-15T11:58:25.045-07:00I don't necessarily think it is a dumbing down...I don't necessarily think it is a dumbing down. Languages tend to simplify themselves over time instead of becoming more complex, and it's happening at a more rapid pace due to the internet and literacy rates.Cherie Reichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-25833494996424034752012-08-15T09:26:54.856-07:002012-08-15T09:26:54.856-07:00Cristina: I don't think publishers were more s...Cristina: I don't think publishers were more selective years ago, I think they simply had a better handle on the English language. It's true language like everything else will evolve, but it doesn't seem to be going in the right direction. We should be pulling up not dumbing down.<br /><br />S. Goddess: LOL! It just says you like Winnie the Pooh just like me! (: <br /><br />Kamille: Great example and I agree a lot of the problem lies with the commercializm and marketing of movies and toys through the publishing industry, which is in turn, diluting the quality of our children's books. <br /><br />Richard: Thanks for stopping in! (: <br /><br />S.P. Bowers: Telling parents not to use "big" words to your children is crazy. Kids are like sponges and are capable of absorbing a lot of infrmation if only we take the time to teach them. My kids for example (who are normal)are bilingual at 3 and 6 years old.<br /><br />lawolf: 1977 was the copyright date, so I'm not sure when it was actually written but I agree, dumbing down for sure. ): <br /><br />Linda: Hi Linda. I guess a lower word count would be acceptable as long as the diversity and richness of the vocabulary stayed intact. But unfortunately, this isn't the case with the new books. <br /><br />Mina: I don't know Mina, I've read several articles indicating a lower level of vocabulary in "advanced" reading books. <br /><br />Kelly: Unfortunately, I think parents are going to have to be more and more selective with the books they buy their children.<br /><br />Mood: It is and I don't see it getting any better in the near future.<br /><br />Melissa: Yes, it is sad.<br /><br />Jarm Del Boccio: Thanks for stopping by and I agree with you. My children are 6 and 3 and bilingual. Children are perfectly capable of learning a rich and more complete vocabulary than what is being fed to them today. Elise Fallsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14734537117333738468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-23692581114369447132012-08-15T06:22:54.940-07:002012-08-15T06:22:54.940-07:00Absolutely,Elise! I do notice this. My passion i...Absolutely,Elise! I do notice this. My passion is to make history and Scripture come alive for children, and I can't do that with a lower word count using simple language. Why would I want to? Our language is rich...why would I want to keep it from children? We need higher standards in our choice of words...how can children enrich their own vocabulary if we don't?<br />The pilgrims learned to read and write using Scripture. How far we have strayed!Jarm Del Bocciohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16734893974122730211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-23150874655385775802012-08-15T05:52:10.869-07:002012-08-15T05:52:10.869-07:00Agreed, It's happening in story books and in s...Agreed, It's happening in story books and in schools. It's sad. :(Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08516493326566981116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-89077516464736552222012-08-15T05:19:39.034-07:002012-08-15T05:19:39.034-07:00That's a very intersting observation, and a li...That's a very intersting observation, and a little worrying.<br /><br />moodmooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-38087810672731946222012-08-14T20:31:05.435-07:002012-08-14T20:31:05.435-07:00This is super interesting. I don't have childr...This is super interesting. I don't have children yet but when I start reading these types of books I'll have to look for it!Kelley Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06373650788799372118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-80172844323525133802012-08-14T20:25:19.078-07:002012-08-14T20:25:19.078-07:00Hmmm, what a comparison! Maybe the older books wer...Hmmm, what a comparison! Maybe the older books were published expecting parents to read them to their children and the newer with the idea that parents will push kids to read them themselves?<br /><a href="http://minalobo.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Some Dark Romantic</a>Mina Lobohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-10204835160592860412012-08-14T20:08:05.830-07:002012-08-14T20:08:05.830-07:00Interesting post, Elise. Sadly, I'm one of tho...Interesting post, Elise. Sadly, I'm one of those parents who, when I ask my child to pick out a book for us to read, I also add, "Don't pick one with too many words." Frankly, I like the books with the fewer word-counts, because I bore easily with long-winded books. Also, since my son has just started reading, we co-read. I'll read a line, then he'll read a line. It's much easier if the words are ones he's familiar with.<br /><br />I tend to have a short attention span anyway, so I like shorter books. But I don't like the commercialized children's books based on TV or movie characters. :(<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-68642683101252652832012-08-14T19:53:48.902-07:002012-08-14T19:53:48.902-07:00dumbing down, for sure!
methinks milne did not wr...dumbing down, for sure!<br /><br />methinks milne did not write the book in 1977; it's likely the pub date of that version, but so much better than much of what passes off as kid lit today<br /><br />even worse: a lot of the crap being passed off as 'music' these days... :(laughingwolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08873675614347328116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-88726678363751372172012-08-14T17:25:25.479-07:002012-08-14T17:25:25.479-07:00I see it too. In part I think there might be a bi...I see it too. In part I think there might be a bigger market to parents who start reading to children at day one so they've printed easier books. But I also believe we are making things too easy. I often hear people saying "You shouldn't use such big words around children/youth" but how will they learn to use words if they never hear them? How will kids reach beyond "you know" and "whatever" if we never stretch them? S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-90901852678496830732012-08-14T16:32:08.346-07:002012-08-14T16:32:08.346-07:00I understand what you're saying.I understand what you're saying.writing and living by Richard P Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814139767151989286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-66628646104312989022012-08-14T16:05:03.765-07:002012-08-14T16:05:03.765-07:00I completely agree with you. I read my cousin'...I completely agree with you. I read my cousin's kid one of my books from my childhood. The word count was over 1500 words, compared to around 200 words from some of his books. He understood most words and I taught him some new words. But he followed the story well. And then I had to read him another book from school. It was silly. Some pages had less than 10 words. And then I had to identify the new words he'd learnt and he had already known all of them so I had to comment he didn't learn any new words in his diary. <br /><br />The books his mother buys him are a lot better since she gets to see them and she chooses books with a wide variety of topics and good storylines but then he gets some awful ones from school. <br /><br />I agree with Cristina on the commercialism bit. I walked into the kids section of the bookshop and cringed at the explosion of Dora and Diego, Ben 10, Ben and Holly's Lil Kingdon and other awful children's franchises that dominate children's media. It's sort of disgusting.<br /><br />Every time my cousin's kid comes over, I have to read Ben 10 books and it's so boring. I hate Ben 10. But he loves it. :(KamilleEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06845951906601926878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-63560631045878666362012-08-14T15:59:52.932-07:002012-08-14T15:59:52.932-07:00Whether 1977 or 2012, a 73 word sentence is looong...Whether 1977 or 2012, a 73 word sentence is looong! My editor would have a fit if I did that. Personally, I found the second book easier to read... which I probably should not have just admitted. What does that say about me...THE SARCASM GODDESShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16701902616479991303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466797836225520430.post-73097821857420974852012-08-14T15:55:00.786-07:002012-08-14T15:55:00.786-07:00I wonder if it was more expensive to publish books...I wonder if it was more expensive to publish books back then so they had to be more selective with their choices? also, commercialism has ruined books I think. My kids have received books as gifts that I've refused to read to them, one in particular was a bunch of Tory Story short stories, oh my GOD! I felt dumber after reading it. The writing was awful, the stories were pointless and idiotic.... ugh! <br /><br />I guess what we can do is not buy them? and definitely not write them :)<br /><br /><br /><br />Cristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15064636500827230911noreply@blogger.com