Is the English language being destroyed?

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  1. GoingInsane's Avatar
    • Full Member
    • Posts: 100
    Is the English language being destroyed?
    To you agree that the English language is being butchered by texting, abbreaviations and the widespread use of 'Americanisms'?

    I find that younger people today, with a wider access to mobile phones and other technology are becoming more accustomed to using text language and spend more time online than reading.

    Are you concerned by this? What are your views?
  2. plimsolls's Avatar
    • Banned
    • Posts: 892
    • Warning points: 1000
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    can't you be reading when you're online? I do a lot of general reading on t'internet.
  3. Kolya's Avatar
    • TSR Royalty
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    Language evolves and changes over time. Whoda thunk it.
  4. The_Last_Melon's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    I think that language itself is rather pointless.
  5. Dalek1099's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Location: North East England
    • Posts: 5,808
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    Yes it is,soon most people won't speak any language in England because the teaching of MFL isn't going too well in the country and we can only speak English Language.How will we communicate?
  6. HarveyCanis's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: Stirling/West Cumbria
    • Posts: 2,405
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    You have no idea how language works do you?

    "I am of the opinion that our tung shold be written cleane and pure, vnmixt and vnmangeled with borrowing of other tunges" That was John Cheke in 1561. He's probably laughing at your awful spelling right now.

    Like most prescriptivists, you're just completely ignorant to how the development of language occurs aren't you?
  7. Dalek1099's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Location: North East England
    • Posts: 5,808
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    Another fact to consider is the 30%,who fail English Language to grade C and the millions of adults who can't do english language,to grade G-12 million.
  8. the bear's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Location: Linton Travel Tavern
    • Posts: 7,190
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    The English language has not fallen totally into desuetude but is at risk of becoming moribund; it is our bounden duty to revivify our mother tongue in our quotidian intercourse
  9. lolipanda's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Location: Wiltshire lol
    • Posts: 253
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    nah im not worried by it. apart from the americanisms but thats just me, im just biased cause i dont like them. they dont make logical sense in my opinion...
  10. silverbolt's Avatar
    • TSR Legend
    • Location: Roscommon
    • Posts: 13,356
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    (Original post by GoingInsane)
    To you agree that the English language is being butchered by texting, abbreaviations and the widespread use of 'Americanisms'?

    I find that younger people today, with a wider access to mobile phones and other technology are becoming more accustomed to using text language and spend more time online than reading.

    Are you concerned by this? What are your views?
    Seeing as two hundred years ago you wouldnt understand a third of the words used i wouldnt worry too much about it.

    500 years ago and you possibly wouldnt understand a word of it

    Languages change - roll with it
  11. g_star_raw_1989's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
    • Posts: 4,948
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    I don't have sleepless nights over it.

    Although, text language is so common that I do notice and appreciate the rare occasion where someone goes to the effort to make sure their text is well written.

    A lot of people use text language out of convenience and there is nothing wrong with that, however, It would be worrying if you didn't know the difference between "there, their and they're" or "to and too" etc...

    Although, if children are using "shud" or "cud" in exams that would be worrying.
  12. ElMoro's Avatar
    • TSR Idol
    • Posts: 8,643
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?


    This is probably relevant
  13. TheGreatReformer's Avatar
    • Junior Member
    • Posts: 46
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    Not as long as there are people like me, who still use archaic words and are fascinated with the past. Just a few hours ago, I used the word 'equine' and 'notwithstanding'. People think such things posh; but they are part of the English language and we are in England/Britain after all.
  14. PoGo HoPz's Avatar
    • I'm so glad, that she's my little girl...
    • Location: Wonderland...
    • Posts: 3,737
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    No, not really. On the contrary, I think that the fact the English language can be adapted and changed in such a way shows just how diverse and interesting our language really is.
  15. adamski92's Avatar
    • Junior Member
    • Posts: 36
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    I'd personally argue that Destruction of a language happens when it fails to progress.

    The beauty of the English language is that it is ever evolving; i'm all for archaic linguistics but any lack of development does what it says on the tin. Colloquialism and Idiolect are such fascinating things that their dismissal is ignorant, somewhat elitist and stops progression of thought. (language is of-course our biggest former of a concept of 'reality')

    Many people when they speak to me make fun of the way i talk,'bruv' 'sick' 'bro' but most of it is ironic and I'll run rings around them if i so wished- 'proper' English (whatever that may be) has a time and a place.
  16. Dee Leigh's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
    • Location: England
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    I think it is evolving.
  17. Llamageddon's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
    • Posts: 4,671
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    (Original post by Kolya)
    Language evolves and changes over time. Whoda thunk it.
    What I don't get is why people think this is a bad thing. Being overly rigid would be the end of the English language, not adapting to modern means of communication.
  18. Id and Ego seek's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: It's a London Thing
    • Posts: 2,749
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    I hate pompous grammarians like you.

    Read David Crystal's books on the Internet - Internet linguistics, Internet language, and the advancements of the English Language - and shut the hell up.
  19. Bobifier's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Location: England
    • Posts: 5,607
    Re: Is the English language being destroyed?
    Read the original Canterbury Tales, then weep at what a feeble imitation of English's true form you really speak.

    Then accept that in 500 years time the exact same thing will have happened.
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