The Death of the English Language?

Question

Okay, as a former ESL teacher, and holder of an MA in an applied linguistics field, I'm decidedly upset and just plain galled by the disgusting abuse of language that permeates all the Internet communications I come across daily.

Y!A is especially troubling as so many younger people use it, and so many of them fail to see the importance of clear orthography, grammar, and diction! Messages cannot be interpreted when the tools used to send them are garbled and unclear.

Granted, many users of Y!A are English learners, so they get a pass. But (and here's my question), to those English speakers who were born into English speaking households, and for whom English is the primary if not only language used...

What do you see happening to our common language in the not-so-distant future as a result of the abbreviation, truncation, and substitution engaged in online?

Answer 1

I don't think the evolution will be that that dramatic. My main grudge is people not "getting" ("grokking" in Old Internet Slang) the distinction between texting, chat and IM on the one hand, and Email and Internet forums on the other hand.

Answer 2

Its just the language evolving, I'm sure Shakespear would be appalled at your english.  

Answer 3

I see it de-evolving to a grunt speak once used by the cave people.

Answer 4

dude, chill. language evolves, im sure english speakers from 1,000 years ago would be shocked by the way we are speaking now, and thats just the way it goes. no need to "save it" and i dont beleive its dying, it's evolving and changing

Answer 5

I posit that texting will enter the written lexicon as a dialect--and I hope it will remain the "b*****d child" of English.  

Answer 6

Some people don't have the time or 'cant be bothered'. Just remember that its only the internet and im sure they would use correct grammar in school homework or something. Sometimes people can't spell either, and just shorten things down to make it easier

Answer 7

I agree with you. There is no reason for ignorance. I live in the united states of America where everyone is entitled to a free education. Ignorance should not be tolerated as long as you are a U.S. resident.

Answer 8

I agree, I always try to write clear, concise English when I'm posting and I despair at the messages some people write. Usually you can understand what they are saying despite the poor grammar and spelling but occasionally I come across postings that are difficult to understand because they contain so many errors.

I exclude English learners from this because they are making the effort to communicate and even when the language isn't spot-on the message is usually clear.

I see nothing wrong with supporting the use of clear, correct English, whether writing on the net, speaking in public or any other usage. However although I'm also a sometime EFL teacher and holder of a modern language degree, I suppose I'd go down as over the hill and just plain uncool in many of the younger people's eyes.

Answer 9

It bugs me too an I wonder if young people are managing to separate communication on the net with communication for educational and professional purposes.  Rather like some young people join in with the 'lingo' of their peers yet know how to speak appropriately with their teachers and parents.

As the net and sites such as this are replacing a lot of young peoples social lives I think it is inevitable that this will happen.

I also think that the net is bringing us closer together and I am picking up 'Americanisms'.  I am hoping that one day we will all speak the same language.  It has almost happened in Britain.  We all spoke different languages, and I'm not just talking about Scotland and Wales.  There were many languages and they are now just dialects same for Wales where most people are bilingual as some speak Welsh.

It will happen on a bigger scale, a global scale.  

It is also inevitable that spellings will be simplified to suit the cyberworld, and as long as it becomes something consistent and not 'make it up as you go' I think it is not such a bad thing.

Personally I would be embarrassed at the moment to present myself as some one who doesn't know correct English.

Answer 10

English will go the way of Latin, a dead language.  

My only difficulty with your very eloquent question is; why did you start it out with OKAY?  I've gotten to the point of ignoring questions that start out "ok, like I have this boy in my class...."

Edit:  Good point trying to appeal to the younger generation using their lingo.  It would be great if they would take the time to learn to speak and write properly.  I'm afraid we really are seeing English as we know it.

Answer 11

i lyk totali c were ur cumin frawm dood..  

Answer 12

well, i only write poorly online. its easier.

you want me to write properly? here you go.

Well, I only write poorly online. It's easier.

Would you like me to write properly? Here you go.

Answer 13

Here is how I look at it: its has been said that by 2017, English will be the secondary language here in America.  Now I ask, if English is the secondary language to Spanish, why would they put the effort into fixing the slang, abbreviations, texting, etc...  

I don't think that your question is going to receive "proper" answers, as the question is improper in itself.  The real question should be, why in the h**l are we letting OUR primary language slip between our fingers to our once secondary language?  It's no wonder why children are not learning proper English...they are being taught proper Spanish before anything else.

Answer 14

I see it evolving and developing while young people innovate new words and create more creative and accessible approaches to communication.

Answer 15

did you ever see the movie 'Idiotocracy'?  

if not, rent it from Netflix...it will answer your question.

Answer 16

The english language is like that. It changes.

It's no different then sophisticated shakespeareran (I spelled that wrong) turned into "Woah dude, that's cool."

We can say ridiculonkuless and still understand what it means.

Answer 17

I've never attributed anything good to lawyers before but, thanks to them, the English language is as safe as houses (so to speak). Poor grammar and incorrect spellings can sometimes change the meaning of any text. Therefore, it is very important in legal documents that there are no mistakes of this kind. So the lawyers shall forever be the guardians of our language, keeping it safe from the laziness of internet users (me included).