As Andre put it, there are about 7,000 languages spoken in the world today. What if the English language died out? We would all either be speaking in some weird slang term filled language with nonsensical grunts and English slang terms. Swear words would take the place of all people, places, and things. Well in today's society it's almost like that now.
It's important we keep our language grammatical correct so the English language can live on for the rest of time. As for languages evolving, English is a great example. The is a major difference between Shakespearean English and modern English, not as much slang in those times (or so it seems). It's important to keep a language intact so that those who speak it now can speak it forever and keep it in their culture.
America may not be the biggest English speaking country (China), but we have taken it and made it our own. Without it we would not be able to come up with such terrific slang words like
"shiznit" and terms like "shank". And if or when we lose our language to slang words, we will sound like a bunch of drunk frat boys.
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5 comments:
I don't believe an entire language has ever been reduced to nothing but grunts and slang, why is it that you think English would die out that way? Modern day english may contain more netspeak than I'm comfortable with, but it's far from a language consisting of mostly swears. Or is that not what you meant. Let me know if I'm interpreting your response wrong.
It seems more likely that, if the English language ever dies out, it will be because of another language taking it's place or English evolving into new languages all together.
Keeping things grammatically correct for the rest of time isn't going to happen. Any linguist will tell you that languages evolve, no matter what, and when languages evolve it's bound to happen that the grammar will too.
Shakespeare IS Modern English. We have a hard enough time understanding him now consider English before that. It'd probably seem like another language all together chances are the grammar would be different too, that doesn't make it any less English that makes it Old English.
The evolution of language is inevitable like OMG and LOL. These things can't be helped especially when society has changed as drastically as ours.
Ugghh, Ruhh, Mrrhh... I'm just goofing.
Your post reminds me of a movie I saw recently called Idiocracy. It was a comedy about the world in the next 500 years and everyone was dumb, from the TV shows and poor intelligence. By then English downgraded into a very simple form of "frat boy talk", so I know what you mean. But I'm curious what are your sources about China being the biggest English speaking country? I want to look into that.
Actually, Dave's post reminded me about a book I read called "The Feed". It too was set in the future, only everybody had...basically iphones in their heads. They could shop online, IM and serf the web just my thinking. Instant gratification taken to the next level. Anyway, because all the constant chatting, netspeak with pretty much all that was spoken. Even the adults had very poor grammar and swore all the time.
i'm just saying theoretical things and speculating, I'm not saying it WILL happen. I am just going with current trends and how our language is ever changing...also trying to be satirical in a way, so chill out those of you who thought I was 100% serious.
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