Subject: Is English a dying language?
Posted by: romeomikegolf
Date: Jun 04 13
After many years on this site, and others, I feel that English, as a written language, is dying out.
What do others think?
Posted by: romeomikegolf
Date: Jun 04 13
After many years on this site, and others, I feel that English, as a written language, is dying out.
What do others think?
42 replies. On page 1 of 3 pages. 1 2 3
SisterSeagull 
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Not dying... But most definitely in transition. Reply #1. Jun 04 13, 7:50 AM |
Jabberwok
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In what sense? As a grammatically accurate and precise means of communicating, or as a method of communication altogether? Is it the language, or the gradual loss of the formal register you are lamenting? Reply #2. Jun 04 13, 7:51 AM |
daver852
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Hardly! Reply #3. Jun 04 13, 7:51 AM |
romeomikegolf
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It's the loss of the formal register. Things like ain't instead of isn't; winningest instead of most successful; you haters instead of you who dislike,ax instead of ask. Transition I can cope with, destruction I can't. Reply #4. Jun 04 13, 8:05 AM |
| Jabberwok
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It depends what you are reading, and for whom it's written. On here, and facebook and twitter, people are communicating rapidly in English, using acronyms and slang. In other forms of written English, the style and grammar matter to the audience, so the writer takes more care. I was teaching the use and construction of subordinate clauses to 9 year olds a few weeks ago, and they knew that using at least three of them in a piece of written work would create a better piece of writing and up their grade. That's before we get onto conjunctions and modal auxiliaries. To communicate effectively, either in written or verbal mode, being able to switch between registers is a useful skill. Most educated people have it. Even 9 year olds! Reply #5. Jun 04 13, 8:16 AM |
| romeomikegolf
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"On here, and facebook and twitter, people are communicating rapidly in English, using acronyms and slang." Slang is one thing, misuse is another. Many users of FT do not have English as their first language so struggle to understand what is posted. FT is not an instant communication site so there is no excuse for laxity. A few seconds to review what is posted would make things much clearer. We have Geordies, Brummies et al, but they don't post using their dialect. If they did even most Brits would find it hard to comprehend. Reply #6. Jun 04 13, 8:28 AM |
| Jabberwok
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Have you specific areas in mind, or are you despairing in general? :) I agree that people should read what they've written before posting, so that they can edit their text, but are you meaning the quality of the English in quizzes, or on the chatboards? Is it entire paragraphs that trouble you, or the annoying confusion of there, their and they're or its and it's and similar spelling confusions? Reply #7. Jun 04 13, 8:45 AM |
| romeomikegolf
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It's not the quizzes. The editors do a fantastic job to ensure they are legible to all. It's the appalling lack of proper English on the chats, from so called English speakers, and the way some(not all)posters think that only Americans read these posts. I must add that there are Brit posters whose English leaves much to be desired, hence my original question. Reply #8. Jun 04 13, 8:53 AM |
| Jabberwok
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I'm interested partly on my own account and partly because both my husband and daughter are Grammar Nerds. They read bits out of newspapers illustrating poor English, neither of them can write without punctuation or accurate spelling. I'm particular, but not as obsessive as them. Boy doesn't care, and his mangling of homonyms and spelling rules in general is a thing of unpredictable wonder. Reply #9. Jun 04 13, 8:54 AM |
| Jabberwok
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American English and spelling is a fascinating area to analyse though, I frequently come across structures that are 17 and 18 century English, fallen out of use here but living elsewhere. Perhaps as a moderator, you should be given a highlighter. A virtual blue pencil. I hope this thread doesn't keel over and fizzle out, it would be interesting to hear some opinions from Americans about how they see the role of English on the site. Daver? Reply #10. Jun 04 13, 8:58 AM |
| romeomikegolf
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I have a red pencil. It's the 'delete' button. :) We have a policy not to delete or edit threads because of the way they are written. If we did only 20% would get through. Reply #11. Jun 04 13, 9:03 AM |
| Jabberwok
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The temptation must be be very strong though. :) On a serious note, imagine how many interesting, unusual and generally lovely people you'd put off the site if every post had to pass a series of hurdles based on 'What constitutes good English' Would you like to be on a site that continuously put appearance above content or intent? Both together would be good, but if I had to choose, I'd cope with the confused and confusing text if what the person was saying was worth reading. It often is. :) Reply #12. Jun 04 13, 9:23 AM |
| romeomikegolf
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I'd rather be a part of a site that encouraged communication and not language, which is why I'm still here. Reply #13. Jun 04 13, 9:30 AM |
| Jabberwok
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I knew you were a Good Egg! How about a reward jar with smarties or wine gums or a titbit of your choice? Read a post which offends every fibre of your being, relax, breathe and reward yourself for not blowing up. Reply #14. Jun 04 13, 9:38 AM |
| romeomikegolf
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Smarties please. Reply #15. Jun 04 13, 10:03 AM |
| Jabberwok
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:D I'll put them on my Sainsbury's list for you. Good to choose a reward that Rudy can't share. I'm sure that's why I developed a passion for black pepper prezels. Boy hates them. I think this site does a huge amount to educate and enlighten, not just the excellent quizzes, but all the times on the various boards that someone from one culture stops and asks a question of someone else, and the door opens into another world. My team has a mixture of nationalities, and I've learned so much more than facts about how others see the world and how they interact with it. Reply #16. Jun 04 13, 10:09 AM |
| romeomikegolf
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I grew up in a multicultural society. My mum is German and her best friend was Anglo-Indian. From an early age I heard different words for the same things. That is not the same as a degeneration of the language. I knew many Indians that spoke better English than I do now. You can speak how you like, but write correctly. I don't care if you are American, Australian, Indian, or whatever. English is English. Reply #17. Jun 04 13, 10:26 AM |
| romeomikegolf
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"I hope this thread doesn't keel over and fizzle out, it would be interesting to hear some opinions from Americans about how they see the role of English on the site." This isn't the most popular board, but perhaps we can encourage others to have a think and post here. I'd be interested to hear from non English speakers and their opinions about how they learned the language. Reply #18. Jun 05 13, 5:08 AM |
george48
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We may despair over the use of slang, improper spelling, and bad grammar. I don't particularly care for this degradation of language either but as i have said before on this subject,as long as the message being communicated is understood by the people for whom it was intended, what's the problem? I think too that with the instant communication available nowadays and more young people using their short form, it may seem like we're being inundated with bad language, but the young of every generation have always used their own peculiar kind of slang to confound their parents. I did and you probably did as well. Let's wait and see if these people are still talking this way into their 30's, then i would be concerned, maturity brings conformity of language. Reply #19. Jun 05 13, 6:19 AM |
| daver852
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Read some 19th century letters that were written by ordinary people. The level of literacy is higher now than it was then. Reply #20. Jun 05 13, 8:18 AM |
42 replies. On page 1 of 3 pages. 1 2 3
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