With reference to David Crystal who argued that it is development.
2006-07-01 17:56:07 · 15 answers · asked by bluechip 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
It's development either way. Degradation is an opinion, but development can be proven.
2006-07-01 17:59:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
David Crystal is right, it is development. Languages do not degrade except by going extinct. As languages become extinct, we find several stages in which grammar is forgotten as the language is used less and less. But English is not going there. Languages are in a constant state of change, getting neither "better" nor "worse", they do not degrade, they develop.
2006-07-02 09:07:55 · answer #2 · answered by Taivo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
English has never been pure, there have always been words that have been borrowed from other languages. It's neither development or degradation, but a mix of culture, unless you are talking about English from England. In that case degradation because that language is somewhat pure still.
2006-07-14 23:49:16 · answer #3 · answered by jazzoboist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If English is an "Abominably bad language". As MC Hummer would suggest, then it is a remarkably successful one. And it is quite correct to suggest that all languages progress and develop. Though one does get a tad naffed off with Americanisms that seem to be creeping in. I wouldn't mind so much if they were even vaguely intelligible. But seem to stem from the MTV culture. Can that be called culture by the way? By the way Hummer, what's the reason your so Rabid? And as a side line did you know that in English if something is said to humm. It stinks to high heaven? And if something is a real hummer it's the smell of the sewer! TATA!
2006-07-14 13:37:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
English is an abominably bad language, the back alley mutt of the world. It is the offspring of every unneutered stray that fornicates, and it continues to fornicate with other languages like dogs with other dogs.
"We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."
- Booker T. Washington
2006-07-02 08:49:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Languages change over time, although at a very slow pace. However, I never think it's degradation.
2006-07-14 08:50:20 · answer #6 · answered by CRT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's development or evolving. Languages are living things always changing; and If a language doesn't change, it is a dead language, like Latin.
2006-07-02 01:11:56 · answer #7 · answered by J9 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is both.
It is just the way the language evolve. The rest is a positive or negative connotation.
2006-07-14 12:37:46 · answer #8 · answered by yomero 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
any change can be development or degradation by itself...it is relative..depends on your perspective how you view it.
it also depends on how you use it.if it is used to demean and discriminate people, then its degradation.
2006-07-13 07:20:23 · answer #9 · answered by neanderthal 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
development
2006-07-15 08:24:03 · answer #10 · answered by ummsofafi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋