Let's say that we're in the future and this space ship leaves earth to inhabit another planet.All the people that left with the ship all spoke English,after two hundred years the ancestors of these people return to Earth.In these two hundred years there was no communication between the two planets.Now these people that came back to Earth would their language be a bit different from what is spoken on earth?
I would say some words would change thru time.About you?
2006-07-07 06:13:01 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Anthropology
Definitely so. Actually you wouldn't need such a far fetched experiment to find out. That's exactly what happened with British English and American English. The language spoken on this two Countries a little more than two hundred years ago (if you consider the American Independence as a reference year) was very similar both sides of the Atlantic but is now different to what is spoken today in any of them. Also, there are differences between them today, enough for Microsoft to make two different dictionaries. Look at how kids write in Y!A and you will foresee how people will be writing 200 years from now.
I guess under your space Odyssey situation differences would be much more, if there were no communications, though not necessarily enough to make them incomprehensible.
2006-07-07 06:36:56 · answer #1 · answered by Fromafar 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Of course. We always make up short cuts to words, or slangs almost everyday. It's how we have gotten the languages we have today. There are four base languages: Nubian, which includes most of the African dialects; Latin, which branches off into the European languages; oriental, such as Japan, china, Mongolia, and korea; and then Arabic, which includes the middle east and into india. All languages branch off from these. Plus there were combinations between them.
America is the perfect example. America was settle primarily by English, hence it became our language. But in three hundred years they sound nothing like british, though they still have most of the same words and basic grammatical rules.
2006-07-07 13:27:00 · answer #2 · answered by Rob 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Certainly. If the only English speaking people left the planet and had no communication with the new generation, then the new generation would have to make up a new language, as they would have nothing to go by as a template.
2006-07-07 13:20:13 · answer #3 · answered by Samba Queen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question. Langauges over time do evolve and change. Look at webster for instance. For some unknown reason, the word "unibrow" was added to Webster's Dictionary today. I think it is entirely possible for languages to evolve and change through periods of time. Even accents change, listen to the audios from FDR and compare it to the English (American) accent of today.
2006-07-07 22:37:50 · answer #4 · answered by Gatedialer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The people of the new planet will come up with new words to describe new objects and activities they encounter. Both American and British English are evolving from influx of new and foreign words. So if history is any indication, there will be differences.
2006-07-07 19:02:35 · answer #5 · answered by mityaj 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definately language would change. Think Shakespeare... we so don't talk like that anymore! Find a dictionary from just 100 years ago; you'll find words no longer used in today's spoken language.
2006-07-07 13:20:58 · answer #6 · answered by logical 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think to an extent it would change, having hung out with co-workers we seem to always make new words or carry on something that we hear, but i think it would be still english. Gotta realize that they manual for the spaceship is written in english so they better understand it :)
PS: hopefully it is not written in chinese, cause everything is made there.
2006-07-07 14:51:18 · answer #7 · answered by james_e_purdy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not only some word has change, but also new words formation. Think about technology, computers. A lot of new terminology. Also globalization and influence of other languages and countries
2006-07-08 00:07:00 · answer #8 · answered by dorotheasosial 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmmm...very interesting..... I think some words would change too. I mean without communication between the planets it would be very hard to keep up with the new lingo. But in all respect maybe it wouldnt change cause it hasnt changed that much in years.. I dont know. but thanks for giving my brain something to think about...;-) Good luck with the answers you get...I will keep watching to see them.
Shan
2006-07-07 13:32:00 · answer #9 · answered by zaney1973 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say it would change because language would evolve through time.. we can see every language has old and middle and new version.. English has it too.. so it would certainly change..
2006-07-07 16:14:21 · answer #10 · answered by Nazanin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋