How many people think that our vocabulary, people as a whole, in modern times has deminished?

Question

From my close observation, reading and watching t.v. films written in the classical times ,era that us humans although we are evolved scientifically and are richer than our for fathers. Our use of vocabulary is not as broad or elaborate as it used to be. Tell me your opinion. From reading and the love of learning new things each day and being so fond of words, my vocab is more from other people around me. Not wanting to be pretentious!!!

Answer 1

The basic gist of your commentary is that you think people are stupider than the were in the distant past, correct? I agree completely.

Just look at the literature. Compare our favored authors, people like James Patterson and Stephen King, to classic authors like Aristophanes and Apuleius. Modern work is sad in comparison.

Answer 2

Most linguists believe that vocabulary has not diminished, but rather has undergone an evolution. Common vocabulary is based upon the words that the majority of the population uses. Some words we use now we slang words in the past, but have become commonly accepted words through use. Similarly, some words that humans once used are not longer used and are generally considered "archaic" due to their lack of use. New words are constantly being created, and old words drop from disuse. To say that our vocabulary is increasing or decreasing is to look at only one side of the equation.

Answer 3

I agree but simultaneously disagree, as useless as that is.

We are using vocabulary differently. I would consider it more streamlined and efficient than many forms people have used in the past. Less poetic, but if we all went around talking like characters out of Shakespeare, we'd all starve to death because we couldn't just say, "Pass the potatoes." We'd have to make this big deal about comparing the lowly tuber of the Earth's sweet flesh glistening like diamonds by GE's 120-watt light and so forth.

We do seem to have shorter attention spans and be less intellectual. Probably because we're all going through schooling that was originally designed to train factory workers who would never want to be anything more than factory workers, but that's just my conspiracy theorist opinion.

Answer 4

So glad your vocabulary hasn't 'deminished'.
Your use of sentence fragments and incorrect punctuation seems to point out that Grammar studies should be your next big project.
It's really great about the 'not pretentious' thing.
Good luck.

Answer 5

The current usage of the english language is terrible, we constantly are evolving by the use of slang. Slang becomes apart of the proper language and therefore we no longer use the proper terminology. I can't imagine introducing my friends to my family as Miss So and So and Mr Thingo, but I share your sentiment, I love the old language.

Answer 6

The vocabulary is expanding at a rate which is phenomenal Your just listening to the wrong radio station. Get pretentious silly, hell, why not?

Answer 7

If you are going to ask a question like this and let us all know how wonderful your vocabulary is, you may want to learn how to spell "diminished."

Answer 8

I blame all the dangblang computers and the internets.

Speed of communication has increased, level of attention span has decreased.

People don't listen and observe any longer, they react and respond off the cuff.

Answer 9

If you want to stretch your vocabulary, try reading the essays of Revilo Oliver. He seems to use more of the dictionary than anyone else I know.

http://www.revilo-oliver.com/
http://www.stormfront.org/rpo/

Answer 10

Remember, knowing to use simple language to explain complex matters is an art. It is easy to be verbose if you have the knowledge, however, not all well-educated people can be good teachers too.