English homework question

[SadieKate]

Comen agayn?

I don't understand how you can say the English language has degenerated. Perhaps there is a growing number of individuals who exhibit poor use of it, poor grammar, poor spelling and punctuation, or impoliteness by today's standards, or limited vocabulary, but the language itself is ever living, breathing and morphing. It's a wonderful thing. New words come into being and some go by the way side. Grammar changes as the language adapts to our cultural changes. Chaucer's vocabulary, syntax and pronunciation were vastly different than the language modern Brits speak. I think we'd have a hard time understanding each other, but is this bad? I don't think so. Language changes with us and we change the language.

That is the truthiness of my world view.

[Bruno28]

I don't understand how you can say the English language has degenerated. Perhaps there is a growing number of individuals who exhibit poor use of it, poor grammar, poor spelling and punctuation, or impoliteness by today's standards, or limited vocabulary, but the language itself is ever living, breathing and morphing.

Language changes with us and we change the language.

Well said! Language is organic. A lot of what comes through to us from the past is formal, educated English. Look at 'literary' novels today and the language is just as rich. Similarly, young people show huge inventiveness in language use in informal settings.

[mimitabby]

Well said! Language is organic. A lot of what comes through to us from the past is formal, educated English. Look at 'literary' novels today and the language is just as rich. Similarly, young people show huge inventiveness in language use in informal settings.

Bruno, show me an American English modern novel that rivals "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott or something written by D I C K E N S in terms of Vocabulary.
True, people can still spin good tales, but I don't see the vocabulary nor do I see the grammar. (I should talk! eeek!)

[SadieKate]

Barbara Kingsolver and Charles Frazier, to name two authors.

[SadieKate]

Ivan Doig, Diane Smith and Edward Abbey.

Would you like me to keep going?

[Bruno28]

Bruno, show me an American English modern novel that rivals "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott or something written by D I C K E N S in terms of Vocabulary.
True, people can still spin good tales, but I don't see the vocabulary nor do I see the grammar. (I should talk! eeek!)

Not big on American novels-

Joyce Carol Oates? 'Blonde' for example.
Steinbeck?

Ian McEwan (English)

I understand what you say mimi but I think, at least in part , what we see is increasing use of informal language in public settings.

Don't get me wrong - I'm a bit of a grammar anorak and I admire well written prose. Linguistic studies have shown that what we think of as 'correct' grammar is actually greek and latin grammar forced onto English prose by Victorians through the British public school system. This was highlighted by early work by computer programmers trying to design translating machines. The main role of grammar is to avoid ambiguity in communication.There is an argument that grammar is hard-wired by the time we are born.

This is all from recollection of studying linguistics twenty five years ago so might be complete nonsense!

PS spelling was also organic until the invention of the printing press!

[mimitabby]

Sadie kate, I didn't want you to stop, I was enjoying your list.


You guys named a lot of novelists that I have enjoyed.

[lph]

Perhaps there is a growing number of individuals who exhibit poor use of it, poor grammar, poor spelling and punctuation or impoliteness by today's standards, or limited vocabulary, but the language itself is ever living, breathing and morphing.

Well, I agree that language does and should change, but it bothers me that peoples awareness of it is diminishing. As you said, an increasing number of people exhibit poor use of language, poor spelling and limited vocabulary - but they don't seem to care. It's not that a language should be static - I'll gladly use words I make up myself to suit the moment an i doan allus spell em rite eether - but I wish more people would care more about the way they express themselves.

Present company excepted, of course. TE is packed with people who write well.