Does anyone else think that the English language is deteriorating?

Question

It seems to me that the written language is being eaten away by texting, emails and messaging where shortened versions or symbols for words are the norm. (<----- like that) And with the influx of so many people for whom English is their second language, the intermix is creating many more sub-English dialects in the different communities around the country. In some cases the subtle change of speech is deliberate as in slang and street talk and is used to create a seperate identity from the rest of us. Is this a good thing? Or should we all at least be able to speak clear English that is understandable to all?

I'm not really talking about the normal evolution of language, but of the rapid way it's happening now. In some cases it seems to be deliberate, to create a seperate identitiy or culture that is almost exclusive to those that use it. Our multi-racial society is being segmented with this and not integrated which could be part of the reasons why our peoples cannot or do not bother to communicate with each other. Language should bring people together, not keep them apart, especially if we all have to live and work side by side. We need to be able to understand each other in all aspects of life.

Answer 1

I agree with lightningviper...

It really is quite awful. I think we should all try to speak clear true English! Not RP or anything - Queen's English - just English that can be understood even with a strong dialect or accent. No deliberate deviance from such a beautiful language here thankyou very much!

Answer 2

I agree. I really hope it doesn't though, but language throughout time has always changed and maybe today is a living example of it. I think proper oral English should be spoken and written. I can't understand why it is deteriorating as schools are suppose to be implementing the proper concepts of oral speech etc. The Internet has played a huge part with children now writing in computer jargon too. I remember having a discussion with some teachers and how they were all saying how kids wrote things like : I went to a party, it was g8. If however, parents are speaking incorrect English too at home then no doubt children will imitate. Slang alone seems to have developed into a language of it's own. It's quite amazing to see all this but I don't think slang is a good thing.

Answer 3

Change is not the same as deterioration.

It is clear that the English language is changing, as indeed all languages do. Language change is a completely natural process and nothing to be afraid of, frankly. Think how strange it would be if we were still using the same language that Shakespeare used, for example. We wouldn't have a lot of words that are entirely commonplace now, like "computer", "refrigerator" and "automobile", for example.

So although change is happening, the idea that change is somehow making things worse is erroneous, in my opinion. You also imply that these changes are somehow making English hard to understand. I assure you that people who use other forms of English understand each other very well. If you don't understand it's an indication that you simply aren't part of the target audience.

I regularly see complaints on Yahoo! Answers that people use terrible grammar on this site. In many cases, the rules that prohibit certain kinds of grammar were made after that grammar had been used in English for hundreds of years. In other words, the grammar that people think is so terrible predates the rule that says it's bad. That seems pretty silly to me as well.

Answer 4

Standard English will always exist to act as a framework within which the language will be understood at both its highest and most basic sense.

As for the language that is commonly spoken, people (it's users) will adapt it, change it, move it, replace it and abbreviate it as they see fit. Language and culture are bound and will develop side by side as a reflection of and influence on each other.

The English language is in one sense deteriorating but it another it is evolving. The standard version will always exist as a reference point and will fall in and out of favour with people as time passes.

Text messaging, email and net speak are relatively new in language terms and perhaps they will make some inroads into the print world but unless they are used to give reference to something, they could never replace standard English for literary purposes as their meaning generally lacks depth.

Moreover the lexicon of text language is quite small, I'm sure you could write maudlin as mdln but that could be confused with muddling, how ironic is that?

These new forms of English are a bifurcation of the language, they will exist with English but never replace it so I don't think the language is deteriorating.

As for everyone speaking a clear English because Johnny Foreigner has influenced the language, you have to ask why? Scots aren't English, Welsh aren't English, Australians, Americans, Nigerians, Jamaicans and Irish all have their own amazing and unique idiolects and accents. No one and everyone owns English, that's what makes it great. People add and take away and accent and amplify bits and pieces as they feel. That's why we've moved away from olde English and middle English to what we have now. Just take stock and enjoy the ride.

Yes!

Answer 5

The reason English is becoming the world's dominant language is because it is flexible and not tied to rules.

It's a rather difficult language to learn, but many do because it is so useful. It is the language of aviation and many other practical endeavors.

We can choose to speak it either in a vernacular or in whatever we consider to be "correct" English. Chances are most of us will communicate. English steals words from practically every language on Earth.

The whole question should be "does it communicate?" If it does the language is not deterioriating. English was intended to communicate. If it doesn't communicate it might as well be Martian.

Answer 6

plenty break down, need fix bad.

contact Bill Gates ?

well, language evolves, if you research the spelling of words a few hundred years then you will see that the spelling was considered "correct" but then who decided to change the spelling and then the new spelling was "correct"

an example is the word gay.

first used to decribe "happiness", then being a homosexual and now being a term for "rubbish"

if a minority of people use a term then it can be accepted into every day use by a majority of people.

of course, like the question asks, sometimes changing language is not always good.

Answer 7

I don't think the quality of language has changed all that much It's just the written form which has changed, thanks to text messaging, the internet and international film.
Americanisms have entered our language through film, whilst different forms of English are jumbled up through the internet.
As for text messaging, this written form is really just a subsection of English, and most people who use text message language are unlikely to use it in everyday written English. Generally it has been proven the great majority of texters are teenagers, who will eventually give it up.

Answer 8

The English language has always changed. All you have to do is read the Bible to see how English was written years and years ago. And Shakespeare was full of words we now find antiquated. If you want a language that doesn't change you can try Latin-a dead language. English is alive -- enjoy it

Answer 9

I agree, while language is always subject to change - if it wasn't there would only be one indo-european language - it does seem to have degenerated massively in the last few years. I want to slap people that pronounce mischievous "miss-CHEEV-ious". And I keep having to look up all these abbreviations e.g. "LOL" to find out what they are, and then finding more than one definition. I send people grammatically correct texts and emails when I do send them, and I am quite young. Even American English is vastly more acceptable than this trash people type.

Answer 10

A language can't deteriorate unless fewer and fewer people are using it and it is heading for extinction (such as Cornish); this is certainly not what is happening to English! English is just evolving - but in a different way from the way it has evolved in the past.

However, misuse of grammar and puncuation do annoy me in the extreme.