If you look at the great authors throughout history, from Shakespeare to Hawthorne or even a present-day author, the English and the language that they use in their writing has altered, changed, decayed, and digressed as time has passed the human race. Language in itself is already diverse. There are thousands of different ways to say the same simple phrase, but it is thought today, perhaps now more than ever, that the English language is and has been “decaying” or becoming unsatisfactory. In today’s world of technology, it is hard to tell the reason that language could be seen as decaying. Perhaps technology is the reason that language is seen as decaying, but language has been changing and evolving since it began, each dialect and form …show more content…
There are one hundred different languages to say one simple phrase in, but at the same time, there are one hundred different ways to say the same simple phrase in one language. For example, you could refer to your favorite Coke product using a plethora of terms and phrases, such as but not limited to a carbonated beverage, soda, pop, and even soda pop. People of different dialects across the United States refer to the same thing is a variety of different ways, but does our conformity to speaking plainly so others will understand mean that our language is decaying? No, most definitely not. I read and understand Shakespeare just as well as I read and understand text messages from my friends, but their lack of eloquence or the sheer presence of the eloquence in their messages does not mean a deficit in their use of language. We have moved passed the time when speaking eloquently meant that you were educated and that was something to flaunt. Extraordinary language is no longer left to the Shakespeares of our time, and plain language is not longer left to the uneducated of our time. A diversity in language does not imply a decay because to me a diversity in language is an
In the article “Do You Speak American?,” Robert MacNeil is trying to reach the american public, especially those who do not have a complete understanding of the ongoing changes that are happening to the English that is spoken throughout the United States. He uses a multitude of examples to prove this very fact. For one he wants to inform the people that one reason for this change is that average people now have more influence in the way language is spoken.Which to him is a good thing. He enjoys the new evolution that American English has undertaken. He believes that it is a step in the right direction. Another, example he uses are the changes different regions and/or group of people have made on the English language. He uses the different accents and dialect to show the growth and improvement that occurred. Even though, some linguist view these changes as wrong, MacNeil views them as necessary and as something that is unique to the United States. In essence, a necessary growth that only makes the United States grow into a better country. Thus, making it more diverse.
Since it’s been a predominant topic of our discussion, let us talk about the infamous English language. We can be sure that it has painstakingly progressed throughout generations of reevaluation and modernization, and has thus become what it is today. It has gone in several directions to try and mesh with the various epochs of language, from the Shakespearean era to the common English slang we use now, we can all agree that English is a language that has been transcending and will continue to transcend into many
Despite the warnings of Orwell through both his essay and dystopian novel, bad English is still used today, and could be argued to affect more English than it did during Orwell’s life. The consequences are also just as he predicted, those who control the language are able to wield control over the thoughts of others. The usage of poor quality English by media has he effect of making the recipients of news more detached from events and as a consequence, more self-focused. The clumsiness and foolishness imposed by bad English ultimately degrading thought, politics, culture, and society is what Orwell had foretold. This is the English tragedy that is disregarded, modern thoughts of “English” are not of language but of the English Queen.
Rhetorical Questions - In the fifth paragraph of this essay MacNeil ask rhetorical questions like "Is our exposure to social media wiping out regional differences and causing us all to speak the same? Is the language really in serious decline?" Including these questions in the paper helps convey consideration regarding the reason for the
George Orwell’s essay, the Politics and the English Language, portrays inaccuracies associated with writing. He explores examples of poorly written sentences. He appeals, “Language as an instrument for expressing and not for concealing or preventing thought” (Orwell). The main points of his essay consist of writing clearly and honestly in order to accurately represent what the writer is intending their audience to understand. Orwell focuses on the reasoning for the decline of the language due to political and economic reasons. This reaffirms the necessity to simplifying language as opposed to complicating it in an effort to appear intellectual, respectable, or powerful. Outdated metaphors, extra or pretentious words added for the sake
The English language has been in constant transition throughout its history, but the most significant transformation in modern English can be credited to William Shakespeare. With Shakespeare’s invention of commonly used expressions, his creation of new words, and his use of iambic pentameter, he was able to affect the language in a way that no person since has. Shakespeare’s influence on modern English is not only visible in everyday speech, but also in the fact that his work has survived over four hundred years and it continues to be performed and read worldwide.
In the essay “Politics and the English Language” by George Orwell, the author states his opinion of the decline of the English language. Orwell discusses both its causes and what he foresees as its consequences. He states there is less innovation and coherency, which dilutes the power of the language. Orwell felt that people were using the English language inaccurately, relying on metaphors which are meaningless and used so the writer does not have to bother with creating their phrases. Orwell asserted “It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.”
In Robert MacNeil’s article “Do You Speak American?” MacNeil discusses how the United States English started to become more diverse through the ongoing changes in the way English is being spoken throughout the States.MacNeil includes different demographics, groups of people and dialects to depict the progress that has come about over the years. With this in mind, he wants people to view this change as a step in the right direction.He aims to persuade people who are against this shift, so they can grow to tolerate and view this growth in a more positive manner. Since this article was published after his show on PBS in USA magazine he aims to convince people who have an above average knowledge of the English language to view change as a progressive
George Orwell’s essay, Politics and the English Language, first published in 1946, talks about some “bad habits”, which have driven the English language in the wrong direction, that is, away from communicating ideas. In his essay he quotes five passages, each from a different author, which embody the faults he is talking about. He lists dying metaphors, operators, pretentious diction, and meaningless words as things to look out for in your own writing and the writing of others (593-595). He talks about political uses of the English language. Our language has become ugly and the ugliness impedes upon communication. Ugly uses of language have been reinforced and passed down in the population “even among people who should and do know better,” (598). Ugly language has been gaining ground in our population by a positive feedback mechanism.
Over the last decade, the English language has taken a great leap forward. And the main reason for that,is modern technology.
how the English language has changed in the many years from then until now. The
In Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language, Johnson argues the importance of preserving language. Other dialects had a produced their own dictionaries, such as the French and Italians. Various writers of the eighteenth century were alarmed at the fact that there was no standard for the English language, since there was no standard it could easily become extinct. Johnson explored many points, such as how and why languages change as well as how many words are formed.
Since the Industrial Revolution, technology has permeated and become an integral part of our everyday lives. In fact, a life without technology seems almost impossible to imagine. Almost everyone, around the globe, has access to technology in one form or another. Consequently this type of technology has become ingrained into our culture. Its roots are so deep that it is now peculiar to see someone without a smartphone than with one. Consequently, smartphones and the Internet have radically changed the manner in which we communicate and how we communicate with one another. Our speech has metamorphosed so much from that of our grandparents that it almost seems like a foreign language due to the incorporation of slang and “text talk.” With the sudden surge of email, blogs, and instant messaging that occurred within the last couple of decades, the impact that technology has on our linguistics has become more pronounced. Technology has helped to bridge the gap between people by allowing us to communicate as easily as we breathe. On this note, one would think that the dawn of the Era of Technology would give birth to a renaissance of the English language but, instead, the converse is taking place. With such widespread prevalence of technology such as smartphones and computers, the degradation of the English language is a problem now more than ever.
Throughout the time there has been many languages yet none of them have been as dominant as the English language. This has raised some distress among the people fearing it will become the only language spoken in the world. Countless dialects have and will disappear and those that survive will be simplified by the usage of smaller vocabularies and less complex sentences. These changes were particular cause by the migration. This forced adults to learn new languages quickly but as a result, they were learning less of the language, opting for shorter sentences and not using any grammar rules. The future holds an increase of streamlined languages that will become easier to learn and will have the capacity to communicate in one widely accepted language that could be used as a second tongue. In this essay will discuss the idea that McWhorter has of how the English language will be the only idiom in the world.
According to Hudson, a variety is ‘a set of linguistic items with similar social distribution’ . Since the term dialect has acquired a negative connotation throughout the years, academics have started to use the term variety, which is considered more neutral, instead.