What is this ignorant new way of speaking?

Question

"That's well good", " How's you?"...what is happening to the English language????

Answer 1

You always seem to get the same old answer to this question - it's nothing but "natural progression". Well, sorry, but as far as I can see, a great deal of it is nothing more than sheer laziness brought about by the lack of education - or more likely 'learning' (i.e. youngsters are taught, but just don't take it on board!) - and the use of 'text' language. Both cause the rapid deterioration of the language due to the "thinking" that it is "cool" (whatever that's supposed to mean in this context) to abbreviate words firstly in an attempt to save space and time in typing text messages and then this has been applied to everyday speech. All the "street-cred" merchants think it's very clever, but they may well come unstuck if they start using this kind of talk at job interviews or in anything involving the passing of information to others.
One or two of the phrases which have come to mean nothing but which are now used all too frequently (and often by people who should know better!) are "You know" or "know what I mean?" to which I ALWAYS reply "NO" questioningly. (Listen to any interview with David Beckham and see how many times he says "you know" - as if we do!), and another one is the rather pointless "At the end of the day". Does it mean at midnight, at bedtime, eventually, sooner or later or what? I'll leave that one for somebody else to work out!

Answer 2

Oh how I doth agree with thee.

It's part driven by the media - plus fashion industry + advertising + pop so-called 'culture' which feeds off of which ever it chooses for its inspiration ...which gives birth to words like, 'Skool' or 'Sqwool' and so one.

There are other 'trends' that supply it through 'cultures' where a woman becomes a 'ho' (= whore) or a 'b_i_t_c_h,' and ...the list goes on and on. Sadly, both here and in the States, the education is too week [ 'ennit' ] and seemingly ineffectual.

It strikes me that if I had 'invented the Internet, then I think I might well have cut my own wrists when I read the moronic drivel that some people are only capable of regurgitating as a method of communication.

Sad Sash.

Answer 3

Oh for pity's sake, lighten up!

It is called "the vernacular," or "common argot."

It has been around for centuries. It always causes the elder generation to decry the lapses and failings of the younger.

Gradually, it transforms language.

I am quite able to speak and write formal English with sufficient precision, but frequently lapse into colloquial speech, because it is quite expressive, colorful, and enjoyable!

The English language has always borrowed heavily from foreign tongues, slang, patois, and yes, the vernacular. Thus, it evolves. That is what makes it the varied, versatile, flexible tool that it is!

And, um, by the way, I am a "bleeding American." If y'all don't enjoy what's on the freakin' telly, hit the "power" button! That's what I choose to do! :-))

Answer 4

One of the things that makes the English language fun is the way we soak up so many slang expressions! One reason why French is dying is because they have tried to keep it from changing!

There have always been lots of slang usages and expressions in English, and I'm sure there always will be. Not to worry. There are still many people (and I think probably more than in the old days) who write grammatically, creatively, and beautifully. If you want to see some really bad grammar, spelling and uninterpretable English, just go back to the letters and diaries of our Revolutionary War or Civil War ancestors. Whoo-weee! They were bad. And there are plenty of complaints from those days.... if you remember your Jane Austen, she has a some insulting cracks about poor language in her novels - notably in "Northanger Abbey", I think. where the heroines boyfriend mocks women's poorly written letters....

Enjoy the colorful and lively expressions and relax. :)

Answer 5

It is called ebonics. People speak that way because:
a. It is pushed as something that is very fashionable. People who speak it “fit in.” (With idiots, but they fit in all the more.)
b. If not the previous way, they learned to do so from their parents, kept this bad habit, and will probably never break it because there is no need to do so.

-Also, it's not only older people that get annoyed by this. My friend is a Polish immigrant, yet I sometimes understand her better then other teens that have been citizens all their lives and are spouting out ebonics.

Answer 6

the english that we know today develop from many different languages over the last 2000 years i.e. germanic, latin, anglo/saxon and old french. it has now many different dialects. even what you might call 'proper british english' now would be as alien to how english was spoken 400 years ago as the american english seem to us.

Thus, English developed into a "borrowing" language of great flexibility and with a huge vocabulary.

which means it has to grow or it will die.

however there is one word that drives me up the wall
'WHATEVER'

Answer 7

i know the feeling - in england there is an area called essex and alot of people talk like that " yo wats up man "
or we get " it's all gravy baby ". recent news is that new words have been added to the english dicionary
- MUNTER - a ugly person
-MUFFIN TOP -a roll of fat that hangs over your jeans
- BINGO WING - flabby arms

and im only 21 but sometimes i feel about 51 when young kids walk past and are talking in a compleatly different language

Answer 8

Oh, yes. I have never asked the same question: well, not never nor hardly never. That is a well pertinent question, lady. English she is having a right makeover from the Young Ones! Bit o' this, bit o' that, innit?

Natural evolution is the answer, hun. There is nothing anyone can do about it, except stop worrying: we'll all be dead soon enough.

Answer 9

It happens in each generation. People come up with there own expressions, and their own ways of saying things. Its the evolution of a language, and it can't be changed, whether it's good or bad.

Answer 10

go an lie down in a dark room and take a happy pill luv. And stop yer worrying.

Coz u well outta orda and yuze is well naff sista. Gotta chill n donny get het up, awrite or els iz be 4ced to slap ya gangsta a s s